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May 20, 2011
Issue 10, Volume 2
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If you enjoy this newsletter...
FUN FACT:
The average purse holds 60+ items (according to an on-line study) The American Chiropractic Association suggests keeping the weight of your purse to less than 3 lbs. to prevent improper balance and help you maintain healthy posture.
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Time to Spring Clean Your Handbag..
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Hey! Is that your purse or a suitcase?
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A purse is a girl's best friend. It reflects the wearer's style; it holds the essentials needed for a foray away from home; it can make the wearer feel secure and confident, and sometimes - when wearing the perfect bag - it says "look how chic I am!"
...But your purse says so much more. It can be a source of pride or embarrassment. It can give you a sense of preparedness or a feeling of abject disorganization. It can make you feel encumbered, weighted down and tired. What's your purse saying? IT'S SAYING IT NEEDS A MAKEOVER IF:
1) You have enough crumbs in your purse to make a pie crust.
2) You do the "hamster dig" through your purse every day
looking for things, often leaving you feeling frustrated and
panicked.
3) You frequently miss calls because you can't find your cell
phone before it stops ringing.
4) You hold up lines trying to locate your Metrocard, wallet, gym
I.D., business cards, keys - making you appear disorganized
and scatter-brained.
5) You have to dump the contents of your purse in order to
find things.
6) You feel like the weight of the world is on your back shoulder
or arm.
7) Your significant other eyes your bag suspiciously and asks
you if you're carrying a bowling ball in it.
8) You're afraid to change bags for fear of forgetting to transfer
something from the old bag to the new.
9) You have frequent panic attacks because you think you've lost
or forgotten something; it's in your bag, but you just can't
find it.
10) You're just plain tired of digging and dumping.
LIGHTEN UP! The American Chiropractic Association suggests keeping the weight of your purse to less than three lbs. to prevent improper balance and help you maintain healthy posture. So take stock, Dear Readers, of all the stuff you've been toting around with you... and make tomorrow a lighter, brighter, more organized day.
START BY DUMPING EVERYTHING OUT OF YOUR PURSE. Check the lining, pockets, and compartments thoroughly to make sure you haven't forgotten anything. Segregate the items that you absolutely MUST have in your purse. My list looks something like this: cell phone, keys, makeup, wallet, credit cards (I keep my credit cards separate - never in my wallet), sunglasses, business cards, pen, mints, brush and pen light. SET THE ESSENTIALS ASIDE. Toss the leaky pens, stray mints, stale snacks, old dry cleaning receipts, Altoids boxes, broken head phones, etc. Gather paper (old mail, receipts, post-it notes, to do lists, gift cards, ATM receipts). Discard those items which you no longer need (probably most of them!) Set aside coupons, gift cards and receipts.
Gather loose change; put it in a coin jar at home.
Gather excessive change from your wallet also; if there's too much of it, it's weighing you down!
Organize/Clean out your wallet. Know what's in it.
CATEGORIZE AND CONTAIN. STORE makeup (and drugstore items) together in a cosmetic case. Keep only the makeup you need daily. TOSS anything that leaks, smells funky or doesn't look good. Pare down the make-up collection to the essentials (ONE lipstick, ONE blush, etc.). STORE paper (receipts, gift cards, coupons) in an envelope-like container. FIND PERMANENT "HOMES" FOR THE ESSENTIALS Keep your cell phone in an outer compartment of your bag (if there is one) or in an inner compartment where you can reach for it without fumbling. Obvious, but often overlooked. Put keys in an interior pocket or consider a  slim key chain wallet. Always keep it in the same place...attached to your bag for easy access. Keep your wallet in the safest, deepest mid-section of your purse.
FIND THINGS QUICKLY BY USING COLOR: Here's how I'm able to find things in my bag immediately: Everything is contained and compartmentalized...
Sunglasses and reading glasses are in a blue case, specifically designed to hold two pairs of glasses (available at Levenger's).
Credit cards are in a silver case.
Receipts, checks, coupons (all paper) are in an orange leather "envelope". At the end of the week, I clean it out.
Tissues are in a red case
Reading glasses are in a gold lame case.
Makeup bag is a bold zebra print.
Since the lining of many handbags is black, the contrasting
colors of each container make them leap out at me.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TECHNOLOGY: Store phone numbers
and to-do lists in your phone and ditch the (scribbled on) scraps of paper.
 There are some terrific products on the market now to keep handbags organized. Purseket and Purse Perfector are personal  favorites; they do a great job of containing your essentials in separate compartments, and If you want to switch bags, all you have to do is remove the purse organizer (it's already holding your essentials) and pop it into another bag. Voila! Ready to go in seconds!
Go forth, Dear Readers, and take a weight off your shoulders;
put Spring in your step. You're bound to feel lighter and ready to take on the world!
As always, be well, be safe, be organized! xxx's,
Nancy
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GOODBYE CLUTTER, INC. (212) 828-0000
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HELPING BUSY NEW YORKERS UNCLUTTER THEIR HOMES, THEIR OFFICES, THEIR LIVES
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