Book Review & Contest – Pretty Neat: The Buttoned-Up Way to Get Organized & Let Go of Perfection
Posted by Lisa on 16 Dec 2010 | Tagged as: Organized Home, Productivity Tools
My colleagues Alicia Rockmore and Sarah Welch of Buttoned Up have co-authored a fabulous book called Pretty Neat: The Buttoned-Up Way to Get Organized & Let Go of Perfection. The soft cover book is approximately 160 pages long, and nicely written. One thing I particularly like about it is that it gives readers permission to stop holding themselves to impossibly high standards, and not get caught up in what the authors call “org porn.” The authors feel that “org porn” promotes an imaginary world that is pristine, serene, and flawlessly organized, and makes the average person feel that she doesn’t measure up.
Speaking of the average person (okay, average women, as that is the target market for this book!), the authors interviewed real women and included anecdotes and examples from them. The result is that many readers will be able to relate to the ideas as they are not unattainable — they are simple methods that feel like they can be done! And isn’t that the point in an organizing book?
It gets better. The authors are having a contest and YOU CAN WIN $250! Yes, you read that right. All you have to do is comment below and share your best organizational tip or shortcut no later than December 31st at midnight! The reader who submits the best tip will win $250. The winning tip will be selected by the authors, Alicia Rockmore and Sarah Welch, and will be announced on January 10th. So start commenting and make them good! Remember, not only can you win $250, but everyone else that reads your tip can benefit and start 2011 off in a more organized state — a Pretty Neat state to be exact!
6 Comments »
on 20 Dec 2010 at 6:24 pm 1.Kathryn Merrow - The Pain Relief Coach said …
My best organizational friend, tip and helpmate are Post It Notes-brand name or generic. I use them as tabs in books, notebooks and spiral binders. I use them as tabs on papers or reports. That makes it easy for me to find the pages I am looking for. They make it easy for me to find the “chapter” I want. And when I decide I no longer need the reminder or marker, it’s easy to get rid of and that helps me avoid looking through more than is necessary.
on 20 Dec 2010 at 7:23 pm 2.Biba said …
If you are missing your cell phone charger or other electrical components, look first at your outlets and power strips. You may just have left the charger plugged in there (and not loose elsewhere) when you last disconnected and grabbed your phone.
on 21 Dec 2010 at 8:44 pm 3.Lisa said …
Kathryn-
Great tip! Sounds like you are using post it notes well, and not letting them clutter up your world. Good for you!
Thanks for your comment – Lisa
on 21 Dec 2010 at 8:44 pm 4.Lisa said …
Biba-
What a unique, but certainly useful, tip! Thanks for your comment.
- Lisa
on 28 Dec 2010 at 4:27 pm 5.Joetta said …
Lisa,
Great book review! Now, to add it to my list of must-reads!
*** best organizational tip ***
Label. Label. Label.
Buy a label maker!
Label where items belong, so others will know where to return them. – then you’re not stuck being the only person in the home that knows where everything goes!
After opening gadgets and electronics, grab the cord and label it ASAP! Example: “drill”, “AJ’s iPod”, “CJ’s camera”, or “Mom’s BBerry”. This will save so much confusion later when you need something charged. Added bonus – if there are multiple similar items in the home (example, siblings with the same MP3 player, or a spouse with the same model phone) labeling prevents a person who lost their cord, from walking off with yours and claiming it as theirs.
I hope everyone finds this helpful.
Have an organized day!
~ Joetta
on 28 Dec 2010 at 5:01 pm 6.Lisa said …
Joetta-
Thanks for the great tip! I am a huge fan of labeling also. It makes things so much easier to find, and also helps to avoid confusion between family members. Great way to describe that!
Thanks again for your comment. Glad you liked the book.
- Lisa