Give Back this Halloween

Happy Halloween Eve!

I have been a long time fan of FEED Projects and love this Halloween trick or treat bag for UNICEF. I actually bought it many years ago (2011?) for my brother. I finally bought one for myself this year. The tag says, "Made Fairly in China". I love the mission of FEED Projects. When you buy this bag you help provide 40 micronutrient servings for children in Guatemala. How cool is that?

On a side note, many years ago I started buying organic lollipops for Halloween candy and my husband got mad and said kids did not want that crap, they wanted "real" candy. So we have plenty of chocolate to give the kiddos this year.

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Get Organized with Label Makers

I wanted to share with you 2 label makers that I love and use often. The metal one is an embossing label maker and makes the labels you used to see around many decades ago. They are making a comeback and more people are requesting to use the embossing labels. 

The plastic one is the one you see most often these days and because they are flat and not embossed, it makes it easy for labeling things like file folders, paper, etc.

Do you have a favorite type of label maker?

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Made in the USA: Milk + Honey

I first went to Milk + Honey in Austin, TX and got my hair done several weeks ago when I was in town. I had been wanting to try Milk + Honey since I have heard / seen so many rave reviews from people. I was there almost 2 hours, which was much longer than I anticipated. That said, I loved being pampered. My hair felt amazing after. I still want to get a massage there one day. The good news is that they are opening a Houston location in the next few months. Here are some Milk + Honey Houston deals. They end October 31st. I also, just noticed when I was at Whole Foods in Houston last week that they carry many of these items as well.

I started using some of their products and here is what I have:

• Deodorant: works better than I expected and smells fantastic.
• Body Lotion: love this lotion because it absorbs well, plus you are not left feeling greasy and sticky all day. I do think I will switch to the Pink Grapefruit scent next time around.
• Bath Soak: perfect and relaxing after a long day.

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Halloween Cards

I thought I would give you a look at the Halloween cards I sent out this year to family and friends. I send them to a smaller group of people than I do for our Christmas cards. As I have mentioned on here before, I love sending cards and seem to get good feedback from family and friends who enjoy receiving actual mail, so I will continue to send for now.....
I seem to always go for Hallmark's Halloween cards because I think they are cute, simple and inexpensive. This year I decided to go with the circus stamps because some are a little creepy and they're fun. Do you send Halloween cards?

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Eco Product: Coccoina Glue

Have you ever tried Coccoina Glue? I have been using it for several year and I LOVE it! It smells delicious with its almond scent. I prefer to use the stick vs the tub. I have had the same stick for years and it surprisingly has not dried out, but the tub on the other hand did become a lot dryer after several years.They are made in Italy. It is non-toxic, petroleum free, and solvent free. It is made from water, dextrin from potato starch, glycerin and glycol monopropylene You can purchase it here and here.

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Organizing Product: Acrylic Organizers

Some of my favorite products to use when organizing are acrylic organizers. I use them in all kinds of places. Some of my favorite places to use them are in the office and in the bathroom. My clients love them too because they are very modern and minimal. 

Where to purchase acrylic items:

• The Container Store
• Goodwill / Resale Shops
• theorganizingstore.com
• organize.com

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Made in the USA: TOPS Writing Pads

These TOPS writing pads are some of my favorite. I do love a good notepad or notebook or anything paper for that matter. Several of my clients use them as well and I always love them because the lines are spaced right and it makes it easy to read your notes. Plus, they are made in the USA!

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Currently Reading

This is what I am currently reading. Have you read either one? I love all of Brene's books and plus she is a fellow Coog, although I never took any of her classes at UH. I am finally digging into The Untethered Soul after so many recommendations. Love that it is about the journey and looking inward. I love these kinds of books. What should I read next?

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Organize Cords

There are various ways to wrangle your pesky cords that are behind appliances, cords you use every day like phone and computer, cords behind desks, etc. Here are some common items I use when helping my clients and myself wrangle these cords and how to label them.

•        Velcro 
•      This is what I use most often
•        Rubber Bands 
•      These are something that most people have 
•     Zip Ties
•        Cord Wraps
•        Cord Identifiers 
•      These are pretty inexpensive on Amazon and are plastic so you can easily identify what cords go with what
•        Paper identifiers (not pictured)
•      These are compact and great for miscellaneous cords you store away

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Eco Cleaning Products

I almost always use eco cleaning products in my home. My husband on the other hand, doesn't think they always get some things cleaned well enough and will buy toxic ones. It just depends on what the situation is. I have been using the 7th Generation brand for many years and really like them. I just recently started using Murchison-Hume and do like the smell of their products. I also use just plain 'ol vinegar and baking soda to make various concoctions of things. I like adding essential oils to make some of the products smell good. I use alcohol in some things like tile floor cleaning for when I am mopping. I like Bon Ami for the kitchen sinks and in the bathroom.

What are some of your favorite eco products to use?

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Labels to Use When Organizing

When I am organizing various things that need labels these are some of the ones that I like to use. My favorite are the Martha Stewart gold and silver metal label plates that they no longer make. You can still find them on Amazon, but they are overpriced.

Labeling items like shelves, boxes, etc are great for identifying what things are and where they go. Use them anywhere in your house or office. 

Great resources to find them:

• The Container Store
• eBay
• Office Depot
• Staples
• Amazon
• Target
• Craft Stores

Also, check out this great article on label holders.

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Made in the USA: Indian Healing Clay

Have you guys tried this indian healing clay before? It is supposed to be great for cleansing your skin. I have been using it for a while now and pair it with apple cider vinegar, you can also use just water. I don't use it as often as I probably should be, but my face does feel really great after I use it. Another great thing is that it is made in the USA. 

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How to Organize a Neighborhood Night Out Event

Our neighborhood is celebrating it's 1st neighborhood National Night Out next week and I wanted to share with you some things that I have found helpful when planning this. Most states celebrate National Night Out in August, but in Texas and some other states it takes place in October when the weather is cooler. I organized it for the neighborhood I grew up in over a decade ago and when we moved into our new house I decided to take this on since many of the neighbors rarely get out and go to neighborhood events. This year has been a total just winging process.

What: National Night Out

When: Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Where: Our local park

Who: We invited all of our neighbors

• Get the word out. I first get the word out about the date it will be by writing a blurb about it in our neighborhood newsletter. I also send out an Evite to get an idea of how many people will be there. 
• Post to social media. Then I post on our Facebook site and NextDoor site (like Facebook for neighborhoods).
• Donations. Ask for donations and get neighbors to bring a side dish. We have a generous neighbor donating all the hot dogs. We also have several local businesses who are donating items. 
• Ask for help. Then I start rallying the troops (other neighbors) to help with the event. This includes set up, cooking the food, etc. Unfortunately, this year I am not going to make our neighborhood night out and have relied on others more than I normally would. Don't hesitate to ask for help from others are usually willing to help if they can.
• Call local officials. We start calling local officials to see if they will come out and greet neighbors. Call your local police department, fire station and city hall members. Usually there are requests that you can fill out online. Neighbors really like it when they can talk to someone from the city and express their concerns or express their gratitude. 
• Set up early. There will always be those people who show up early, so prepare everything about 30 minutes early. For us there isn't a lot going on and it is pretty simple, so it won't take long to set up.
• Enjoy. Mix and mingle with neighbors and enjoy hanging out with them.
• Clean up. Bring 2 bags one for trash and one for recycle. This makes clean up easy. 

Things we have prepared for the evening: 

• Local officials to stop by.
• Crafts for kids. We will have card making with the Halloween / Fall foam cutouts (picture below and I got them in the $1 bin at Target) and DIY pinecone bird feeders. 
• Our neighborhood Certified Emergency Response Team (CERT) team members to talk about emergency preparedness.
• Give away raffle items that local businesses donated.