EMC on Blogs This Week

EMC was featured on 2 popular blogs this past Monday Camille Styles & Veronika's Blushing where I give organizing tips. Go check them out and happy organizing!

Camille Styles: I offer tips on staying organized with holiday gifting
http://camillestyles.com/living/life-lessons/a-professional-organizers-guide-to-gifting/

Veronika's Blushing: There is before and after photos of a pantry organization project I did and tips on how to organize your pantry. I will also be a regular contributor on there as well.
http://www.veronikasblushing.com/2015/11/organizing-pantry-eco-modern-concierge.html

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Made in the USA: The Incense of the West

I bought this teepee incense holder several months ago at a store in Houston called Manready Mercantile. I have talked about them before and you can find made in the USA items there. When I first bought this incense holder I had every intention of giving it away to a friend, but ended up keeping it for myself. It is a cool little item and is only $10 plus it comes with 20 incense cones. 

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10 Year Celebration!

I'm celebrating 10 YEARS of business!! What started off as a side job while working in O&G turned into a career I LOVE! 

I thought I'd extend my celebration discount for my clients to everyone with 10% off purchased services from now until Nov.20th this includes gift certificates and phone consultations for out of towners. They make great hostess gifts, gifts for employees, etc. Also, stay connected for some exciting things in the coming weeks.

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Made in the USA: Outdoor Voices Workout Clothes

I recently went by Outdoor Voices when I was in Austin, TX. They have tons of workout gear. I am a pretty loyal Lululemon person when it comes to workout clothes because they last. Let me just clarify, I don't go out buying LL all the time, about half of their stuff I own I got resale or it was given to me.

Well, I am so glad I walked into Outdoor Voices because I love their workout clothes. They are comparable to Lululemon in prices = expensive. I love that they are made in the USA and they are soft. Their sports bras are by far some of the most comfortable that I have worn in a long time. I constantly get compliments on the pants I bought. So far they have held up pretty well.

Do you have any Outdoor Voices workout gear? What do you like most about them?

UPDATE: I visited the Outdoor Voices store in Austin in October 2016 when we went back for ACL and the employees there informed me that a majority of their clothing is no longer made in the USA. I was disappointed to say the least. I found this statement on their website as of March 25, 2017 stating "All of our clothing is designed in our studio in New York, ny, and manufactured at an expanding and increasingly-global list of factories. We are currently working with manufacturers in China, Portugal, and the United States."

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You've Got Mail: Shipping Labels

I ship a lot of items for clients and myself and use shipping labels all the time. Of course you can always just write the address on the package or envelope directly, but it is always nice to have something that is easy to read and jazzes up the package a little.

These are great labels that era waterproof, so minimal smearing. 

Martha Stewart brand always has great labels.

Use a stamp for when you want to write on the package directly.

USPS has free labels to use.

Fun, different labels.

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Organizing Tool: Document Box

I absolutely love these See Jan Work document boxes from Office Depot. I use them for all kinds of things like clients receipts, magazine clippings, random paperwork, etc. They are great to use to get organized in other areas of the house or office like art supplies, greeting cards, cords, etc. Price:$11.99

Have you used these boxes? What do you use them for?

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How to Create a Reading Nook

For awhile now I had been thinking of making an empty awkward space in our game room a reading nook and I finally decided to do it. I think I like it, but I am not completely sold either. It looks a little crowded to me. Our dog, Rothko, seems to like it because we can tell where he has been laying while we are out. It was super easy to create this space. Here is what I did:

• Measure. I measured the space to see what I wanted to go there. 
• Decide. I knew I wanted some type of pad. I decided to go with 2 crib mattresses from Ikea because it was the cheapest option and fit the space perfect. 
• Purchase. Purchase the pad or whatever you decide to go in your space and pad covers.
• Add Pillows. I had a whole bunch of pillows I had stored away from when we moved, so I decided to just use all the random pillows we had. I did buy 2 pillows from Target because they were $7. 
• Relax and Read. I knew I wanted the reading nook to be near where most of our books are at, granted we do have books spread throughout the house. I have used the space a few times and it is pretty comfortable and the 2 pads rarely separate down the middle probably because it fits in the space pretty perfectly. 

This was super cheap and easy. I used items I already had and spent around $75 for the mattresses and pad covers. They are super easy to change, so I may change the covers every so often. In the photos you will see 2 poufs that were in our sunroom and I decided to move them back to the sunroom. If we need them in the space I can always move them.

Do you have a reading nook? Do you love it?

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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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