Made in the USA + Eco: Water Hose

I stumbled upon this eco water hose while doing concierge work for a client at one of my favorite hardware stores here in Houston, Southland's. This is just a neighborhood store that seems to have everything that you need. As many of you know, I am all about all things eco if possible. I love that this water hose is made in the USA and is lead free, so no harsh lead coming from the hose. We needed another hose on the side of our house so this was perfect when I saw. I had bought an eco hose at our last house and was happy to see this one. It is perfect for watering your organic gardens.

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Ways Eco Modern Concierge is Eco Friendly

Eco Modern Concierge was formed on the basis of me, Amy, the owner have strong ideas about being eco-friendly. I wanted to incorporate an eco aspect because I like doing what I can when I can to help the environment. I am in no perfect at all, as I have said many, many times on here and on my social sites. For example, I can't kick the paper habit completely because I still love writing letters and reading magazines / books. Being in Houston the eco movement was much more strong several years about. It still is to a degree and more businesses are becoming LEED certified and trying to reduce their waste. When I am doing personal assistant work and professional organization products I try to use items that I already have. Below are some, but not all, of the ways that Eco Modern Concierge is eco-friendly.

• We combine trips as much as possible to reduce waste.
• We use public transportation when we can.
• We support local businesses.
• We use reusable containers whenever possible. 
• We recycle.
• We use eco-friendly products when we can.
• We use reusable bags when shopping for clients, unless otherwise requested.
• We give back.
• We volunteer.
• We sponsor and support eco efforts in the Houston community.
• We use energy efficient appliances and devices when we can.
• We use what we can when we can.
• We reduce paper waste when we can.

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11 Ways to be Productive Throughout the Day

I know you have probably read 5 million different things on how you can be productive throughout the day, but I wanted to share some tips on what I do when I have the most productive days.

Prepare for the next day the night before. Lay clothes out the night before, get all papers and supplies ready for the next day, prepare as much of your breakfast / lunch for for the next day. When I do these things I feel way more at ease and ready to tackle the next day. Plus, I am not running around like a mad woman the next morning trying to get all these things done.

Get enough rest. When I get the proper amount of sleep I feel WAY better, like most do.

Get up early. I am a morning person and feel that I can get SOOOO much done early in the morning when there are few distractions. Plus, I get up early so I can beat the horrible Houston traffic.

Clean off counter tops / do the dishes. The night before or the morning before I leave for work I like to make sure the counters are clear and the dishes are done. This makes it easy when I come home from work to get started on dinner.

Make the bed. I don't know why I feel better when I make the bed in the morning, but I do. Mornings that I leave before my husband, he will often do it. It is something that is so simple and quick. When I come home it feels like things are more complete.

Drink lots of water. This is something I have been trying to do more of the past year and I think I have accomplished it pretty well, but of course there are days / weeks that I don't drink enough. The key for me is to carry around a bottle of water around with me always and refill it throughout the day.

Exercise. This is something that I have struggled with through the years, but when I exercise at the beginning of the day I feel SO good throughout the day. My exercise of choice, as you may know, if you have been reading a while, is yoga. I love the stretch I get early in the morning.

Listen to music. Listening to music gets me pumped up for the day and during the day.

Take breaks. It is important to take breaks throughout the day to regroup. For me I like to get outside and walk around. There is something about being in nature that I love. I love work exploring and just taking a break by walking.

Plan throughout the day. I like to keep planning throughout the day. I utilize my planner a lot to keep track of what I need to do, clients, meetings, networking events, personal events, etc. I feel more on top of things when I plan throughout the day. It helps me stay organized and ready to continue to tackle the day.

Write things down. I constantly write things down. Just like planning throughout the day, it helps me stay organized and be productive. As a concierge /professional organizer this is a must in my book.

How do you stay productive throughout the day?

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Spring Cleaning: Items You Forget to Clean Pt.2

Last year I wrote this post on items you forget to clean and thought I would just add onto it because you don't always think of things right away. I would make a check list to make sure you are cleaning all the right spots.

• Window sills
• Microwave
• Refrigerator drawers
• Dog water / food bowls
• Inside of cabinets and drawers
• Top of windows
• Inside of canister lights
• Hairbrush
• Soap dish
• Sponges
• Under couch
• Under bed

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Eco-Friendly Things to Do in Houston

There are all kinds of eco-friendly things that you can do in Houston on regular basis whether it is visiting a local farm to table restaurant or taking a stroll through one of Houston's beautiful parks. Below are some sites to some eco-friendly happenings throughout Houston.

https://www.visithoustontexas.com/about-houston/green-houston/eco-friendly-activities/

https://www.visithoustontexas.com/about-houston/green-houston/

https://www.codegreenhouston.org

https://www.downtownhouston.org/resource/greenworks/

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Eco Organizing Projects: Use What You Already Have

When I am doing organizing projects for clients, I always say use what you already have. Of course, there are will always be people who want to go for a aesthetic, me included, but it you don't have to go and purchase something then don't. This saves on time, money, waste, etc. Houston is a large city and as a professional organizer I am constantly driving and the less driving I / others can do the better for the environment. Below are some common items most of us have that we can use to get organized.

• Old jars and cans for all kinds of little odds and ends like utensils, office supplies, etc.
• Egg cartons for jewelry, buttons, craft supplies, etc. 
• Shipping boxes for anything that needs a box
• Shoe boxes for anything that needs a box
• Tension rods for cleaning supplies, towels, etc.
• Binder clips to hold random items tougher like cords or money
• Spice jars for all kinds of little odds and ends
• Dish rack to separate lids, documents, etc.
• Napkin holders for bills, papers, etc.

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Made in the USA / Eco: Packing Peanuts

Being a professional organizer and having a concierge company, I have done a ton of moves and packing through the years and have become very familiar with eco packing options. I am always thrilled when clients specifically request eco options. It makes me SO happy. Office Depot has eco peanuts and they are made in the USA. They are plant based and compostable. I found them here in Houston and think they have them in most locations in Houston and surrounding areas. I know there are few other places to get them in Houston as well. Do you have a favorite place to get eco packing peanuts?

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