Eco Friendly School Supplies

Shopping for schools supplies and new school clothes was one of favorite things to do once school began. I still LOVE shopping for office supplies. I have rounded up some eco-friendly school supply options. What are some of your favorite "green" school supplies?'

• Recycled Post-its made from 30% recycled paper.
• Maizy Calculator made of biodegradable corn plastic.
• Lunch Bag bpa-free, eco gel lining, & lead and pvc-free. 
• Bamboo Message Board made from real bamboo and comes from a FSC certified forest.
• Westcott KleenEarth Scissors made from recycled materials. 
• Faber-Castell Crayons made of beeswax and non-toxic. 
• Coccoina Glue non-toxic.
• Staedtler Eco Pencils made from wood from certified PEFC forests. 
• Matt & Nat Backpack vegan and made from recycled materials.
• Tops File Folders are 100% recycled.
• Greenroom Notepad is made from recycled materials. 
• Russell + Hazel Binder is made from some recycled materials. 

*all photo sources are linked in the descriptions and came from the websites linked directly.

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Staying Organized on a Day to Day Basis

I decided to make another video yesterday morning on what I use to stay organized on a day to day basis. I am not the most comfortable in front of the camera, but these little awkward videos are warming me up to it a little more. What are some of your go to ways to stay organized on a day to day basis?

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Client Busy Family: Bar Organization Before & After

This was a bar organization project I did for a client that I have been working on various areas of their house. I love to see a well stocked bar and they definitely had a variety. Always great for those unexpected guests. 

Here is what I did:

• Group the liquor together
• Group the dishes together
• Fold the linens
• Take items that didn't belong in the area and put them where they belong
• Overall organization

What is your favorite liquor to keep stocked?

Before:

After:

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Made in the USA: The Body Deli Rose Mist

One of my clients gave me a bottle of this that she no longer wanted and I actually loved it. I am usually not a fan of rose mists, but really like this one by The Body Deli. I love the way it wakes me up and makes me feel good. Plus, it is made in the USA. What are some of your favorite made in the USA face mists?

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Concierge Must Have Item : Credit Card Readers

 

This item isn't just for a concierge, but for businesses in general. Many other businesses in my field do not all accept credit cards. I think they are a necessary because so many people these days only want to pay by credit card. I don't mind eating the credit card fees if I am offering convenience for clients, plus they are tax deductible. I use Square. Do you accept credit cards in your business? Why or why not?

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Client Photographer Couple: Garage Organization

I met this couple through a creative group and I helped them get their laundry room organized for this blog post. They loved their laundry room so much they asked me to come back and help them with their garage, which I was ecstatic to do and they are wonderful to work with. This garage organization was before the 100 degree temps set in here in Houston as well. He is a wood worker and had lots of tools, scrap pieces of wood and other materials he worked with. We used what they already had and did not buy an new products, except the plastic bins I brought along.

Here is what I did:

• Declutter items that were no longer needed and recycle them or donate them
• Group like items together like wood, tools, screws, etc.
• Put items into plastic bins
• Clear off work spaces
• Sweep up the garage floors

Before:

After:

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One Thing To Do To Stay Organized

This was me playing around in the office in between some work projects towards the end of the day. Obviously it is not professional and is very amateur. Any tips and thoughts on editing apps for video? I want to start doing more videos and how to's when I have the time and make the effort. Also, on a side note I love listening to Pandora when I am working and The Black Keys are always on heavy rotation. They are playing in the background and a song I liked came on so I just rolled with it. This is not perfect or really edited how I would like, but this is real life.

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Made in the USA + Eco: W3ll People

I started using W3ll People products several years ago and LOVE them. The are all eco and don't contain harmful chemicals like a lot of makeup does. They are also made in the USA, actually right up the road from Houston in Austin, TX.

Bry and I recently went up to Austin several weeks ago for an event and in our swag bags was some W3ll People products + a coupon. When we knew we were going to Austin I told him the only place I really wanted to go that time was to the W3ll People store to get some more makeup items. Lucky me now I had a coupon to use. If you haven't been to the W3ll People store in Austin, they also carry many other great, eco brands. Some of my favorite products are this eye shadow and mascara.

What are some of your favorite eco beauty brands?

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What to do when you are in a creative slump and need a break

What do you do when you are not feeling super creative and need a break from work? You can get overwhelmed with work / life and feel like you need to take a total break.  I get this way every now again and really try to take time out for myself on a regular basis. Of course it doesn't always happen, but I try to make time for myself.

Here are some ideas to get you out of your slump:

• Go to the gym or try a new exercise class
• Listen to podcasts
• Watch TED talks
• Just walk around. I love discovering new places and sometimes just stroll around downtown.
• Detox from social media
• Pick up a newspaper or magazine
• Read a book
• Go to a museum
• Go to the park
• Go to the zoo
• Check out a new restaurant, store, event, etc. in town
• Go to a new spa and get a treatment
• Get manis and/or pedis
• Try accupunture
• Get reflexology
• Indulge in a massage
• Color, I know this is trending right now, but it's therapeutic
• Take an art class
• Take a new class of some kind / learn a new skill
• Go to a new networking group
• Join an organization you've been wanting to try for years
• Yoga / Thai Chi / Pilates
• Pick up the phone and talk to a friend / family member / old colleague

What are some ways you like to get out of your creative slump or what do you do when you need a total break?

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Client Busy Mama: Playroom Closet Organization

I am not sure if you remember this, this and this post (where the switching of the closets began) from a while ago, but I got called back to switch rooms. The playroom was now becoming the baby's room and they had to switch closets. The playroom closet held toys, unused items, extra toys, etc. It was migrating into the baby's old closet that had several items that needed to stay in there. 

Here is what I did:

• Take all the baby's clothes, shoes, etc. out of the closet and put into the other closet.
• Switch everything from the one closet to another.
• Organized in both closets.
• Several things needed to stay in the closet like boxed up clothes, blankets, etc so I reorganized those items.
• Some items from the top shelf of the closet got put onto the shelves on the right of the closet like books.
• It may not look as organized as there were several large toys that needed to stay in the closet, but that is part of having kids ;). The larger toys needed to be on the ground to properly fit in the closet.
• Larger, rectangular items were placed on the back wall because they were relatively flat.

Here are some fun organization items for kids:

• Kids storage shelves here and here.
• Kids activity table and storage here. 
• Compartment storage for small items here.

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Made in the USA: Sisters of Los Angeles Texas Rock Glasses

I first stumbled upon Sisters of Los Angeles a couple of years ago at a local Houston store when I was looking to get only made in the USA gifts for a client for Christmas. I really thought that I had already posted about their candles on here, but couldn't find the post so I will definitely need to post about it soon. These Texas rock glasses include Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio glasses. I think these make the perfect gift because they are made in LA, made with organic ink and are fun. So happy when I stumbled upon them in the sale section of a local store. 

These are some other glasses from them as well.

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Concierge Must Have Item: Paper Shredder

Well this may sound like a super boring post, but really this a concierge's must have item. Well at least for me. I am constantly organizing or handling client information that needs to be discarded properly and the shredder comes in handy. Fellowes makes a good shredder that many of my clients have and use. If I have a TON of shredding I will usually take it to OfficeMax to be shredded or a local place in the Heights. When you take paper to be shredded somewhere they usually charge by the pound. There are also various free shredding days throughout the city where you can take your paper items to be shredded.

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Client Fun, Busy Family: Jewelry Organization

This is a jewlery organization project that I did several months ago for a client. She had all kinds of beautiful jewelry, but as many of you know, a lot of it can get tangled. She had the organization items in place already, so I just tweaked it and got everything organized. 

Here is what I did:

• Separate items by type
• Organize like items together
• Match up earrings, bracelets, etc.
• Untangle necesary items

I think it turned out good and now she could easily find what she was looking for. 

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Concierge Must Have Items: Electronic Devices

Another obvious concierge must have is electronic devices. I use my cell phone and computer to conduct business all the time. Whether this is to make business calls, email, send contracts, research, etc. I personally use Apple products now and have a love/hate relationship with them. I love the computer, but hate how everything always needs to be updated and that syncing / back up doesn't always work on the phone. Other than that I am happy with the products. These are definitely necessities for me to conduct business on a day to day basis.

• I used a Rifle Paper Co. case and really like several of them, but sad they are not made in the USA like their stationary. 
• I used this Macbook marble cover. 
• I should note I also have an iPad that I use occasionally if I don't want to lug my computer around and I just take the wireless keyboard as well.

What are you go to items you use in your work life?

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