Pulling It Together in 2010
As a child, like many of us I imagine, I eagerly anticipated the days in early September when I trotted out on the town with my mother to gather an arsenal of school supplies that would signal the new school year, a fresh start, a time to get organized. As an adult, I feel a similar excitement sometime in late December, as the new calendar year approaches. And although I no longer have mom there to remind me that my pencil case has worn painfully thin and perhaps its time to trade in my beloved Addams family lunchbox for something a bit less battered, I nevertheless resolve to get organized and pull it together all by myself.
This year, the first items on my New Year’s shopping list are a small journal book and leather bound day planner. There is something incredibly inspiring about the crisp blank pages and the delight of filling in the emptiness with to-do lists, upcoming appointments and a litany of birthday reminders.
These are but two of the tools I will employ in my quest for organizational bliss. No more will I toss my glasses, without a protective case, into the endless abyss of my oversize handbag. I will no longer neglect receipts in my overstuffed wallet for so long that the print nearly fades away. Jewelry will be neatly stowed, saving me hours of detangling time and sanity. And when I travel, I’ll carry a travel wallet stocked neatly with tickets, cash, and maps.
I realize that while many of us resolve to simplify our lives as much as possible in the New Year, it may seem unnecessary—or even indulgent—to suggest so much new stuff. But I argue that a little bit of organization can go a long way. Chances are, if you’re anything like me, there’s no electronic palm device that can compete with the physical satisfaction of crossing off that never-ending to-do list.
1. Lime Green Smythson Diary (starting bid, $19.00) The featherweight, pale blue pages and prim gold clasp are balanced by a playful green cover.
2. Filson Leather Glasses Case (buy it now price, $75.00) With this durable but not bulky leather case, I have no more fear of scratching and bending fragile glasses.
3. Kate Spade Travel Wallet (buy it now price, $159.00) Great for trips and pretty enough to carry as a clutch for casual evenings out with friends.
4. Set of Two Orange Luggage Tags (buy it now price, $4.99) A perfect solution for finding your black suitcase amongst the sea of look-a-likes.
5. Baekgaard 2010 Day Planner (starting bid, $35) A gorgeous taupe leather agenda is a fashionable back up to your iphone calendar.
6. Leather Jewelry Roll (buy it now price, $39) Perfect for travelling, but good for home to help avoid tangled piles of your everyday favorites.
7. Marimekko Cotton Pouch (buy it now price, $20) A classic graphic print on an otherwise simple pouch. Collect a few to keep receipts in order.
8. MAC Makeup Brush Case (buy it now price, $79.99) Don’t risk ruining another brush by tossing it in your makeup bag. Keep your brushes in a tidy, streamlined case.