Simplified Bee®

Friday Find: Bennett Entertainment Console

2012-02-24T11:00:00.000-08:00

A console table is often a great solution for displaying a flat screen and storing home media equipment. The four door Bennett Entertainment Console with round brass hardware is at the top of my list of favorites because of it’s timeless appeal.

Shown here in taupe, the satin luster finishes are created using a unique multi-layered hand lacquering and antiquing process.

I’ve also created an ideabook on Houzz featuring media cabinets in a variety of styles. I am sure there will be at least one you love!

Happy Friday!

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Design Blogger Series: What Would You Do? #9

2012-02-22T13:23:00.000-08:00

It’s been awhile, but the What Would You Do? series is back!

I’m so excited to have four fabulous bloggers that share a passion for home organizing and design. Jen {I heart Organizing}, Arianna {Arianna Belle Organized Interiors}, Morgan {Pepper Design Blog} and Leanne {Organize & Decorate Everything} all have amazing blogs and I’m thrilled that they are participating in the 9th series.

For these bloggers, I couldn't help myself in selecting an item that has multiple functions including streamlining storage! So for this series, each was asked to design a space using the Campaign Storage Bench from Serena & Lily. The color and pattern of the upholstered cushion was up to them.

“I envisioned the bench in a bright and playful entry. I went with the white bench/green diamond cushion combo. I love Amy Butler's Lacework wallpaper in Ocean. I would do a simple board and batten wall treatment paired with some glass hooks to the lower level {for coats and totes}, and pop the whimsical wallpaper above. For all sorts of entryway goodies, like pet and children supplies, some simple baskets would keep all of those necessities concealed. A striped neutral indoor/outdoor rug will act as a nice balance to the vibrant wall treatment and pretty diamond patterned cushion, and also have durability to handle entryway traffic. The super fun white glossy mirror adds visual interest and will bounce light coming from lovely star shaped chandler hanging above.” - Jen {I Heart Organizing}

* Simplified Bee’s favorites thing about Jen’s design: I love the way Jen mixed pattern – diamonds, stripes and a geometric floral. It’s bold and it works. Beautiful!

“This bench would work perfectly in an entryway. I love that it has space below for storage bins. I'd use three Pandan Bins in Carrot -one in each cubby. Above the bench I'd hang a mirror - a necessity in any entry. The Golden Rays mirror from Neiman Marcus would add warmth and tie in beautifully with the color of the bins. To add lighting, I'd place a sconce on each side of the mirror. For impact, I'd use a wallpaper in a large pattern like the Dusa from Osborne and Little.” - Arianna {Arianna Belle Organized Interiors}

* Simplified Bee’s favorites thing about Arianna’s design: I love the serene, elegant feel of this entry. Adding a punch of color in the woven baskets is just the right touch.

“I love the design-friendly versatility of the Campaign storage bench by Serena & Lily. I can imagine easily incorporating it into a nursery space, a guest bedroom or as a storage solution to reign in spare blankets in the living room. When I saw this bench I was immediately inspired to create a hallway/mudroom where guests can comfortably pull off rain boots and hang coats. I built this inspiration board around this whimsical blue wallpaper, what an excellent way for your home to greet you when coming in every day! I would pair that with a jute runner, a warm and earthy pendant chandelier, a few complimentary throw pillows in this fabric, a side chair for draping scarves and sweaters and above it all I'd hang a stunning mirror that compliments the white color of the bench.” - Morgan {Pepper Design Blog}

* Simplified Bee’s favorites thing about Morgan’s design: The mirror covered in beautiful natural white cowhide is my favorite design element, but I also love how she added in some stylish rain boots!

“My first thought was to use the storage bench in an entry or mud room, then I came across these adorable bird pillows and knew the bench would fit perfectly in a bright and cheery nursery. I wanted to draw all the colors of the room together so this striped rug was perfect for the space and gives baby a soft place to play. I added canvas bins to the bench for storage to hold toys and books. I imagine the bench sitting under a window so I chose solid white curtains to frame the area for a nice place to sit and read. I added a glider off to the side of the bench for a sweet spot to hold and snuggle baby and I couldn't resist placing this fun tangerine pillow on the glider for added color and softness. The pendant light is simple and chic, but has just the perfect amount of detail. Of course, there still needs to be a crib and dresser, but I imagine those things have already been purchased for the nursery and these are some sweet updates.” – Leanne {Organize & Decorate Everything}

* Simplified Bee’s favorites thing about Leanne’s design: The playful, striped rug is fantastic. It anchors the space and adds so much wonderful color. Love!

A big thank you to Jen, Arianna, Morgan and Leanne for participating in this series!

xo,

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Happy President’s Day {& Shopping Alert!}

2012-02-20T11:32:00.000-08:00

{drawing of George Washington by my daughter}

Happy President’s Day! And perhaps I should also say, happy shopping because there are so many amazing deals today. For instance, the One Kings Lane President’s Blowout Sale is fabulous. I couldn't pass it up . Many items have already been gobbled up, but there are tons of beautiful pieces still up for grabs including the following…

And just in case you need it, here is an invite to One Kings Lane.

Happy President’s Day!

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Color Combo: Blues and Greens

2012-02-17T09:23:00.000-08:00

Both cooling colors, blue and green make a dynamic duo. New beginnings, tranquility and growth often come to mind when we think of the pair. It’s also one of my favorite color combos.

sources: 1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | 5. | 6.

What's your favorite color combo?

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Organized, Functional Style: Medicine Cabinet

2012-02-15T14:52:00.000-08:00

We load them up with cosmetics, dental supplies and of course medicine. To keep medicine cabinets neat and tidy its important that every items has a place.

Although, my medicine cabinet was functional, it lacked style {above}. So when the folks at Three by Three asked if wanted to test one of their organizing products, I jumped at the chance. I knew that a trio of the Mini Magnetic Strips add visual appeal while making the cabinet more efficient. They come in a rainbow of colors, but selected the hot blue because it worked best with our bathroom’s look.

Installing the strips took under 30 minutes and I did it all myself. Spot-on Magnetic Hooks were added to hold scissors, nail clippers and an eyelash curler. Magnetized spice canisters now hold barrettes, hair elastics and eye shadows. I love the way it functions and looks!

Sometimes an inspirational quote is a great way to start or end your day, so affixed colorful cards with some of my favorites.

What items help keep your medicine cabinet stylish, yet practical?

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Happy Valentine’s Day

2012-02-14T12:10:00.000-08:00

Give yourself a big hug today and then pass it along!

Thanks a million for reading Simplified Bee. I love my readers!

xo,

*images via Pinterest

Announcement: My Way Home …

2012-02-13T14:23:00.000-08:00

Today, I’m over the moon to share some exciting news about a new venture. I’m now contributing for Wayfair’s new blog, My Way Home! It was an honor and a bit humbling to be selected along side a such talented group of homemakers including Matthew Mead, Erika Johnson, Katie Bower, Katie Rosenfeld, Cynthia Bogart, Liren Baker, Susan Serra, Kate Smith and Justin Cave.

I wanted to share some links to a few articles that have been already published on the new blog. You will have to drop by … I know you’ll be inspired!

Matthew Mead – Simple Winter Sundays

Kate Smith – High-Spirit Hues

Katie Rosenfeld – Throw Pillows Pack a Punch

Happy Monday!

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Friday Find: Wallpaper from Thibaut

2012-02-10T09:10:00.000-08:00

I know – I’ve been on a wallpaper kick lately. So, those that aren’t in love with the material, please bare with me! I was so intrigued by the gorgeous wallcoverings from Thibaut that I wanted to share my favorites with you.

As the nation’s oldest continuously operating wallpaper firm, Thibaut (pronounced Tee-Bo) is known for fresh, inspiring color palettes with classic style. They offer design patterns in wide range of styles - from historic reproductions, toile and chinoiserie to geometric, novelty and tropical.

For those that are timid about wallpaper, a small powder room like the one pictured above is a great space to test the waters.

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Sponsor Discount Code: Serena & Lily

2012-02-09T13:10:00.000-08:00

In case you haven’t heard … Serena & Lily are spreading the love and offering 25% off all signature patterned sheeting. Simply use code 25LOVE at checkout now through February 14, 2012.

Happy Shopping!

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Personalized Valentines for the Class from a Little Artist

2012-02-07T13:23:00.000-08:00

A relative alerted me to this darling Valentines craft from Blonde Designs which I quickly pinned. I knew it was the perfect project for my little artist.

I simply printed the template on cardstock, cut it on the crop marks and then scored it so it would fold over. My little one then personalized each illustration for everyone in her class.

Although the candy is cute {btw when did Valentine’s Day turn into Halloween?!}, I decided to go a different route for the “goodie.” I found mini color pencil sets that although are a little bigger than the tag, looked great and embraced the artist theme.

How are you celebrating Valentine’s Day?

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Cute Throw Pillows for Kids Rooms

2012-02-04T13:10:00.000-08:00

It’s true - I have a small addiction for throw pillows. In many instances a pillow can serve as inspiration for a design, pull the color palette together or simply add a touch of whimsy in a space. Simplified Bee’s new sponsor {yippee!}, Polka Dot Peacock offers the cutest throw pillows on the planet for kids’ rooms. I am highlighting just a few here, so be sure to visit Polka Dot Peacock to see them all.

Are you crazy for throw pillows too?

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Spread the Love… Cute Valentine’s Day Cards

2012-02-02T17:10:00.000-08:00

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I wanted to share some very cute cards from Paper Source. The guitar and little critter cards come as a kit and would make a great craft project for your child.

Although not a card, I also love this Quilled Heart Garland. Wouldn’t it be cute hanging in a window?

Need more Valentine’s Day inspiration? Head over to Pinterest to take a look at some other darling ideas.

xo,

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Interior Design: A Curated Look

2012-01-30T10:23:00.000-08:00

Interiors with a curated look always appeal to me. They typically blend a little old and new, display hand-picked collections and express the homeowners personal style, heritage and passions. They never feel rushed, yet evolve over time.

Interior designer and friend, Leslie Lundgren is brilliant at creating designs with a curated look. Do you remember this Spanish style home she designed? Here are some more images from Leslie’s portfolio that beautifully show this collected look. They are all from the same home, but as you will see, they each tell a different story.

Do you like a curated look?

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*Photography by Jennifer Jacobson

Live Simply

2012-01-27T09:50:00.000-08:00

It’s a great motto right? Well it’s also the name of Annie’s darling organizing blog. Today, I have the pleasure of being interviewed by her. We talk about organizing of course, but also what motivates me to get out of bed. Although, this week nothing could motivate me - I spent most of it in bed sick. Never fun.

Happy Friday! Wishing you a very healthy weekend!

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House of Fifty’s Latest

2012-01-26T10:01:00.000-08:00

I am so proud of my friend and fellow blogger, Janell Beals. She dared to dream last year and launched the online shelter magazine, House of Fifty.

Today, she released the fourth issue and the "bountiful" theme shines through. The 2012 Winter/Spring issue is jammed packed with beautiful interiors, yummy recipes and ton of inspiring articles. You will love!

Here are some of my favorite images from the issue …

What are you waiting for? … click on over to House of Fifty!

xo,

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Interview with Interior Designer Suzanne Tucker

2012-01-24T09:23:00.000-08:00

Once a protégée of Michael Taylor {a designer known for creating the “California look”}, Suzanne Tucker is now recognized as one of the country’s leading interior designers. She founded the San Francisco interior design, Tucker and Marks with her husband Timothy F. Marks in 1986. Over the years, Suzanne’s esteemed 20-person firm has received numerous design awards and has been featured in countless shelter magazines. Most recently, the firm was honored as one of Architectural Digest’s AD 100 for 2012.

I’ve long admired Suzanne’s work and I’m not alone. Her elegant, layered, yet refined approach to design attracts clients from around the world. Suzanne believes, “a polished mix of fine antiques, richly sensual textiles and beautifully designed accessories are the foundations for a timeless home.”

I am thrilled to be interviewing her today!

Simplified Bee: Your award-winning designs are luxurious, timeless and beautifully blend old and new. When did you know you wanted to be an interior designer?

Suzanne Tucker: My mother will tell you she saw it coming when I was a little girl and would spend hours re-arranging all the ornaments on the Christmas tree. I always took art classes outside of my school curriculum and it was natural for me to gravitate towards the arts, art history, architecture & design when I was in college.

{photo by Matthew Millman}

SB: How would you describe your personal style?

ST: I’m a classic girl, my style is timeless but relaxed. I love the word “sprezzatura”, loosely translated “the art of unstudied elegance”.

SB: What type of architecture are you drawn to?

ST: I work with so many wonderful architects and in a diversity of styles that for me the common thread is scale and proportion. I’m a classicist at heart and feel strongly that one must learn the scales on the piano in order to write the modern symphony.

SB: Who would you most like to collaborate with on a project?

ST: I would have loved to have been under the tutelage of John Fowler when he was working for Pauline de Rothschild. Think what you could have learned from those two…. what taste, what style!

SB: Do you have “go to” paint colors? If so, which ones?

ST: I love the Fine Paints of Europe palette, particularly for high-gloss woodwork, Pratt & Lambert, for their lovely clear colors, and Benjamin Moore for their historic palette. Also, Ann Hall paints have the most marvelous multi-pigmented hues.

SB: Which of today’s interior design trends are here to stay and which ones will we see fade away?

ST: Classic scale & proportion will never go out of style. The decorating “rules” of matching and perfect coordination have been permanently broken and I highly doubt they will ever come back. I don’t follow trends, trends by nature are here today, gone tomorrow.

SB: Where do you recommend clients splurge versus save?

ST: Splurge on the best quality upholstery you can afford and on one really good piece of furniture for a room. Concentrate your dollars and don’t spread them too thin. You can definitely save on accessories in a room because you can find the interesting and the unusual at flea markets or garage sales.

SB: In addition to designing, you’ve been busy launching Suzanne Tucker Home and started with an exquisite fabric collection. Can you tell us about your latest collection and what inspired you?

ST: One of the greatest inspirations to any designer is travel. While daydreaming about traveling, I thought of the vast continent of Africa, the historical journeys, the adventurous safaris, the spice trade, nomads, tribes & exotic caravans. So we launched our Caravan Collection with eight new designs all evocative of the “Dark Continent”. The collection offers an enchanted journey of textiles - a lovely silk jacquard reflecting the exotic colors and fauna of Morocco; two luxurious cut/loop velvets inspired by the coat of the cheetah and traditional African trade baskets; soft subtle weaves mimicking the patterns of the sands of the great Sahara desert; dream-like hand woven Ikat stripes and rich cottons inspired by the flora of the jungle and the magnificent zebra. I was so thrilled to see that Pantone had selected Tango Tangerine as the color of the year, as it is a prominent part of the caravan palette.

SB: What’s next for Suzanne Tucker Home?

ST: We just launched my first table top collection for Royal Limoges called San Marco, inspired by the mosaics in the Piazza San Marco. I am also working on a new textile collection inspired by my travels to Istanbul. Up next is furniture, lighting and wallpaper.

SB: Fill in the blank. No room is complete without…

ST: a touch of black.

Thank you Suzanne for your time and generosity. Keep inspiring us!

Red Rush – Go Niners!

2012-01-21T09:23:00.000-08:00

The 49er faithful are beaming with pride. It’s been a while, but this year the San Francisco 49er’s made it to the NFL play-offs. One Sunday, we will be cheering the red & gold as they ~~beat~~ play the NY Giants.

To celebrate this incredible season, I’m showcasing beautiful interior designs highlighting the striking hue of red…

{photos above via Lonny Magazine}

{Photos above via Rue Magazine}

{Photo from British Vogue via Mimi+Meg}

{Designer Katie Ridder}

{Coach Harbaugh’s family motto}

Go Niners!

Giveaway: Wall Decals for Kids from 41 Orchard

2012-01-18T08:23:00.000-08:00

Your child’s interests will evolve and a child that might not have cared what his room looked like as a two year old, may have a strong opinion as a four year old.

Wall decals are a great way to decorate ever changing nursery rooms, playrooms or kids’ bedrooms. They can instantly add color and a touch of whimsy to a child’s space without the commitment.

41 Orchard, of Victoria Australia designs the cutest wall decals. I love that they use eco-friendly materials – a self adhesive fabric that won’t peel over time, but can be removed without damaging the wall. It was hard to narrow down, but here are a few of my favorite designs from 41 Orchard:

The nice folks at 41 Orchard would like to giveaway a $120 gift voucher to one lucky Simplified Bee reader. In addition, they would also like to extend a special 15% discount - just use coupon code: BEE01 on any purchase before March 31, 2012.

Here’s how to enter to win the $120 gift certificate from 41 Orchard:

• Leave a comment on this post with the answer to “What is your favorite wall sticker design from 41 Orchard’s website?” {provide your email if I don't have a way to contact you}.
• Extra Entry - become a new follower of Simplified Bee's Blog, Twitter, Pinterest or Facebook Page.
• Extra Entry - mention this giveaway in a blog post, FB link or tweet, then leave a comment letting me know.
• Please post a separate comment for each extra entry.
• Entry period closes at midnight PST on Wednesday, January 25, 2012. The winner will be chosen by Random.org and will be announced on the Simplified Bee Facebook page on Thursday, January 26, 2012.

Best of luck!

San Francisco Chronicle: Stylemaker Spotlight

2012-01-16T10:16:00.000-08:00

One of my New Year’s resolutions is to stay “unplugged” on Sundays. However, yesterday was too tempting. Although I didn’t blog, tweet or pin, I did log in to see an article the San Francisco Chronicle wrote about me. The article by special contributor, Anh-Minh Le {who is also the editor of Anthology Magazine} , talks about a few of my favorite items, one of which is my Grandmother’s oil painting above, and includes my “cheat sheet” for a beautiful, functional home.

I am so flattered to be selected for the spotlight. The printed version of the article includes a very large photo of me {smaller scale above}. When I arrived at the photo shoot, I remember panicking when Russell Yip {the photographer} told me that it was going to be full-length and nearly eight inches tall in print. I felt awkward taking the shot, but think in the end it turned out!

Friday Find: New Wallpaper Collection by Clarke & Clarke

2012-01-13T09:23:00.000-08:00

Wallpaper is still a huge design trend for 2012. I even decided to install wallpaper in our kitchen nook last fall and absolutely love it {here’s a sneak peak, but hope to reveal the entire space to you soon!}

So for today’s Friday Find, I think it appropriate to show you some new and very chic wallcoverings from Clarke & Clarke {distributed by Duralee in the states}. The collection is appropriately named “Showstoppers” was just released this month. It includes a huge range of both classic and contemporary patterns. Here are some of my favorites from the collection:

The last one in the pink colorway is darling. Wouldn’t it be so cute in a little girl’s bedroom or bath?

On another note, I was also wrong about Google's Friend Connect. Google will continue to support the feature on their Blogger platform {which this blog is on}. So, sorry about the confusion and for now the widget stays!

And on a final note, Congrats Kristin of MN... you have won the $100 gift cert from Empire Patio Covers, but I don't have your email. Please contact me!

Happy Friday,

Guest Post: Organizing School Paperwork

2012-01-11T09:23:00.000-08:00

As we all know, managing paperwork can get out of hand. With the right system in place however, it can be very simple.

Today I am thrilled to have Jen from one of my favorite home organizing blogs, I heart organizing here today to show us how she keeps the school paperwork from her three boys in order… and stylishly I might add. I will be downloading the darling {and free} file labels for sure! Thanks Jen!!!

Each and every day when my little ones hop off of the bus and come running in through the front door, they take off all their gear and give their mama some major hugs! That's my favorite part. And then they take out piles and piles of paperwork. Piles. And more piles. It's like crazy amounts of papers each and every day.

Tackling these piles can quickly get overwhelming, since it seems never ending. And if they don't get dealt with, the piles can create mass chaos.... I know, I have been there!

We typically go through all of their work, and file all the necessities in their personal bins.

This is always our "go to" place for all things related to the kid's schooling and activities. However, to ensure the bin doesn't overflow with all the papers I can't part with, I had created this binder system to house all my favs.

I actually pre-made three binders that matched for all of my boys, even though Parker hadn't even started school yet. Because I wanted them all to match. And this crazy girl thought that she could get ALL of their elementary paperwork into one binder....

I tend to hold on to all their important tests, report cards, paperwork showing milestones being made, etc... and it ended up being more than I originally planned for. And that's ok. It is always one of my favorite ways to go down memory lane with the little ones... they really get a kick out of looking at their older papers as well. So instead of pairing down even more, which tends to be my first reaction, I decided I needed a new storage approach. One that will be manageable as they continue to learn and grow, yet is easy to maintain.

So I snagged three file boxes. You can get them anywhere, office supply stores, Target and Walmart, Amazon... They come in so many shapes and sizes and colors!

The goal was to place thirteen hanging files into each file box. One file for each grade, Kindergarten through Twelfth.

Enter these labels {notice they look slightly different from my photos due to a recent formatting update to accommodate more users}:

{click here to download your FREE copy - Avery Address Labels 5160}

{click here to download your FREE PDF copy - Avery File Labels 5366}
{click here to download your FREE Microsoft WORD copy - Avery File Labels 5366}

You can download them for free! I just printed the labels out on standard address labels and popped them on each of the fourteen {times three boys} file folders.

The next goal was to add a little coversheet to each folder, giving a quick explanation of the contents and showcasing a fantastic school portrait of my little guy, for each current year.

{Click Here to Download this School Paperwork Coversheet}

You can download your own copy of these also! Do you feel the love?

I just printed out a copy onto cardstock for each folder, for each year and popped them inside. Doing this ahead of time will ensure a consistent look for all years down the line, and make it easier to keep up as the years come and go.

Then, just using a glue stick, I glued the year's school photo to each sheet, and filled out all the year's information in the blanks, which ended up making a perfect coversheet for each folder!

And although the file box looks like it is all filled up....

There is definitely plenty of room to grow! Which is exactly what this proud mama needed!

I just pop the cover on and stow away on a nearby shelf. Making this a really easy system to maintain. Oh imagine the giddiness!!

School paperwork is always a hot topic that I have gotten oodles of emails about, so if there are any other storage ideas or solutions that are working well for you, we would all heart to know!

Changes... Can we still be friends?

2012-01-10T13:46:00.000-08:00

I was bummed to find out that Google will be shutting down Google Friend Connect. Here are more details on other Google products on the chopping block. This means that after March 1, 2012, you will no longer be able to follow Simplified Bee or receive updates this way.

Sadly, I will be removing the Google Friend’s Connect widget from my blog next week. I’d love however if you’d continue to follow along and have several ways to do so. My blog posts are distributed on Facebook, Twitter, Bloglovin, Feedburner and via email:

If I find another “friend” type of vehicle that makes it easy for you to follow blogs, I will certainly be adding it!

Thanks for your patience and support!

xo,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

5 Steps to Organize Your Home Office

2012-01-09T09:23:00.000-08:00

When it comes to organizing my home, my office seems to always be last on the list of priorities. This year however, stream-lining my home office is high on the list of things to do. Is it on yours? If yes, here are five simple steps to making your office space functional and beautiful…

{image from Jan Showers}

One: De-clutter

Start by removing all clutter. Toss, recycle or donate the items that are broken, not being used or don’t hold any sentimental value. Perhaps all those dried up pens and broken pencils? How about donating that extra calculator to a local school? When is the last time you read or referenced that book? Purging will help fight exhausting visual clutter in your office and is an easy exercise to perform monthly or quarterly.

{image from Rue Magazine}

Two: File

Don’t over complicate your filing system. The simpler the better. Think about how you look for a particular file or piece of paper. What would be the easiest way for you to find it? Then create a file system that works for you. Don't worry about it being perfect. You can always go back and modify later.

In our home office, I prefer the FreedomFiler – a self-purging file system. It was a recommendation by another professional organizer and now recommend it to my own clients. FreedomFiler has compiled a wonderful {and free} learning center that explains the art of filing successfully.

{image from Coco+Kelley}

Three: Purge a File or Two

Pick a file drawer and shred all documents that you no longer need to save. Here is quick overview from Bankrate.com of which records you need to keep and which ones your need to toss {shred}:

Taxes - Keep seven years. The IRS has three years from your filing date to audit your return if it suspects good faith errors and six years if it thinks you under-reported your gross income by 25% or more.
IRA contributions - Keep permanently.
Retirement/Savings plan statements - From one year to permanently. Keep the quarterly statements until you receive your annual summary; keep the annual summaries until you retire or close the account.
Bank records - Keep from one year to permanently. Throw away checks that have no long-term importance, but keep checks related to your taxes, business expenses and housing and mortgage payments.
Brokerage statements - Keep until you sell your securities.
Bills - Keep from one year to permanently. In most cases, when you receive the canceled check, the bill can be tossed. However, you should keep bills for big purchases (e.g., jewelry, appliances, cars, collectibles, etc.) for proof of their value in the event of loss or damage.
Credit card receipts and statements - Keep from 45 days to seven years. Keep the statements seven years if they document tax-related expenses.
Paycheck stubs - Keep one year. If your W-2 form matches your stubs, you can toss your stubs.
House/Condominium records and receipts - Keep from six years to permanently.

In addition, its a good idea to create a "life" folder or binder that contains the important legal, medical and financial documents {i.e. will, trust, power of attorney, marriage license, etc.} that family members can access in case of an emergency. The WSJ has comprised a comprehensive list of documents your should include. It is also advised to have a copy of these life documents kept with your attorney or in a safety deposit box at a bank.

{image from Lonny}

Four: Organize a Desk Drawer

Desk drawers tend to be dumping grounds. Another way to help streamline your home office is to organize desk drawers. Start by taking everything out of it and sorting through the contents and placing in groups (i.e. pens, note pads, paper clips, etc.). Items that belong in other areas of the home should go in a box temporarily and put away at a later time. Sort through the contents, donating, recycling or tossing out whatever is no longer useful.

Using containers or dividers to corral supplies not only adds function, but can add a touch a style to your desk. There so many organizing tray and divider options for drawers. Before you purchase any drawer dividers however, measure the drawer {width and height} to know what will fit. Also, keep in mind the sizes and quantities of the items you want to store to ensure you purchase the best option. Once you have decided what works for you, then arrange the office supplies back into the drawer using the different containers or sections of the organizer tray to keep things neat and easy to find.

{image from Lonny}

Five: Stream-line Your Desk Top

The easiest way to do this is to remove all items from your desktop except for items that are absolutely necessary for your work (i.e. phone, computer, task light). Determine which items you use on a daily basis (i.e. pen & pencil holder, letter tray) and place them back onto the desk. Add a personal item or two (i.e. family photo, decorative figurine or small plant). The other items that you have removed will need to find a new home (i.e. desk drawer, filing cabinet, recycle bin).

It might take a few organizing sessions for you to complete all these tasks, but you will be so happy with the results!

Happy organizing!

Friday Find: Chic Lacquer Boxes and Stop Procrastinating

2012-01-06T08:10:00.000-08:00

With organizing a priority for many of us this month, I wanted to share these chic lacquer boxes I found at The Container Store. Available in a variety of colors to fit any color scheme, they are perfect for housing jewelry, office supplies or craft materials. And the price is reasonable at $12.99 each.

Speaking of organizing. Are you having trouble getting organized and don’t know how to start? Many times the biggest hurdle in getting organized is procrastinating. The first step in stopping procrastination is to take action and keep it simple. Select the one project you must get done to feel productive. It may be going through that pile of mail, purging old shoes from your closet, or organizing the utensil drawer. Keep it simple and choose a manageable item you can complete in 5-15 minutes. Break the day up into a series of "sessions" for other tasks and balance the time spent planning with time spent doing. Don't over think it and take too much time planning because this too can cause procrastination. Once complete, review your progress, pat yourself on the back (or reward yourself with a nice glass of vino) and plan your tasks for the next day. I find my clients get more and more motivated as they complete tasks.

I would love to hear about your organizing projects and favorite products that keep your space beautifully neat. Please send me an email or share on Facebook.

Happy organizing!

*It's not too late to enter to win a $100 gift certificate from Empire Patio Covers!

Empire Patio Covers Giveaway & Discount

2012-01-04T09:23:00.000-08:00

As I stare at this outdoor pool, I realize I am already longing for summer and warm evenings outside on the patio. During the colder months, patio furniture typically goes unused and needs to be stored in order to protect it from the elements. In many cases however, storage is not an option and larger pieces such as tables, benches and lounge chairs must be kept outside. Patio furniture covers are a great way to keep your outdoor furniture looking new and lasting for a long time.

If you are in need of covers for your outdoor furniture and accessories, you are in luck! Empire Patio Covers has generously offered a $100 gift certificate {with free shipping to U.S. or Canada} to one Simplified Bee reader.

I was most impressed to learn that all of Empire's outdoor patio furniture covers feature an eco-friendly dioxin free coating and a positive air flow venting system to ensure the protection of your outdoor patio furniture against mold and mildew buildup. They also provide covers in a variety of designs and colors so you can coordinate your furniture covers and your accessory covers to complement one another.

The nice folks at Empire Patio Covers would also like to extend a special discount to all Simplified Bee readers! Save 25% when you purchase 4 or more patio furniture covers. Just use coupon code SIMPLEBEE in your cart before checkout.

Here’s how to enter to win the $100 gift certificate from Empire Patio Covers:
• Leave a comment. {provide your email if I don't have a way to contact you}.
• Extra Entry - become a new follower of Simplified Bee's Blog, Twitter, Pinterest or Facebook Page.
• Extra Entry - mention this giveaway in a blog post, FB link or tweet, then leave a comment letting me know.
• Please post a separate comment for each extra entry.
• Entry period closes at midnight PST on Wednesday, January 11, 2012. The winner will be chosen by Random.org and will be announced on the Simplified Bee Facebook page on Thursday, January 12, 2012.

Best of luck!