OMG Organizing!

OMG you guys!!!  Guess what arrived via FedEx today?

Here's a hint:

Here's another hint:

It's a hot-off-the-press copy of The Best of Martha Stewart Living Organizing!

Be still, my heart! While this has the shape and cover of a magazine, the organization and weight are more suited to a book. It has organizing ideas for every room in the house, accompanied by great photo spreads.   

A few of the rooms featured are Martha's! I just love getting peaks into her home and life.  Through her blog and other media, of course. It's not like I'm stalking Martha, okay?

This special Organizing issue is on newsstands until April 30. For anyone wanting to get organized this year, and for those who are mostly organized but need some fresh ideas, this magazine is for you.

Happy organizing!

Gift ideas for Mother's Day

Is your mom a Martha fan?  If so, there are some great deals to be had on Martha Stewart publications in time for Mother's Day. 

Get one year of Martha Stewart Living for $19.95.

Get ten issues of Whole Living for $10.00.

Get ten issues of Everyday Food for $10.00.

And to get this adorable front-page style coloring sheet, click here.

But don't stop the gift-giving with a magazine subscription. Seriously.

Is your Mom a fan of smelling awesome? Or a fan of gorgeous earrings?  Then compliment that magazine subscription gift with some lovely baubles and scents from Darling Clandestine.  Evonne sent me two new fragrances (Carny Wedding and Pyrotechnik) and I was blown away.

I am now the proud owner of eight fragrances in the Calliope Crash line. Before these arrived, I had them all arranged by my order of preference, which was an already difficult job. When Carny Wedding and Pyrotechnik got here, that comfortable and well-established order was totally disrupted. In fact, these two might have marched right into places #2 and #3.  That's how awesome they are.

So, if you were wondering to get Mom, or yourself, for Mother's Day, then I'm happy I could point you in the right direction:  a MS magazine subscription and fragrances from Darling Clandestine will thrill her for the entire year.  Have fun shopping!

The gift of Martha

As a self-proclaimed and semi-certified (and maybe certifiable!) Martha Stewart wanna-be, my Martha card would be revoked if I did not share this deal with you:  now through Sunday, MSLO is offering full-year subscriptions to Living, Whole Living and Everyday Food for only $20.00. 

Plus, they are even throwing in a free tote bag!  This is a tremendous deal, and would make the perfect gift for yourself or anyone in your life who is interested in all good things for their home and their life. 

This offer expires on December 5, so act now (wow, don't I totally sound like an infomercial?  Scary!) before the deal is gone. 

Seriously, I love all of her publications, and I know that this is one gift the recipient will not want to return.  Happy shopping!

Martha Monday--Mail call

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how Martha and/or her people have noticed me.  Soon after, I got two interesting pieces of mail...take a look at the return address:

What a thrill to see something from MSLO addressed to me as a (blog) writer!  Inside the envelopes were the September issues of Whole Living and Everyday Food, along with info sheets about both publications. 

I have to confess, I've gone through each magazine several times already and I think I might like them better than Martha Stewart Living. 

I know, right?!?

Anyways, I'll be trying out the recipes/ideas in the coming weeks, and let you know how the suggestions on the page translate into real TMI Living.  Because at the end of the day, you and I know that's the Living that really matters...the one that works for us in our homes and with our own families.  Stay tuned!

Magazine overload and organization

I like magazines.  I like receiving something in the mail each month that is just for me, and filled with recipes, decorating ideas and other fun tidbits that I can put to use in my daily life.  In recent years, though, I've been on magazine overload.  Some years, I've had 5-7 different subscriptions arriving each month!  That brings a lot of inspiration, sure, but it also leads to a bunch of clutter.  It was time to pare down the magazine stacks--in all, I estimate that I had over 400 magazines lying around my office.

Of course, some magazines are definite keepers...like my issues of Martha Stewart Living.  Obviously. ;)

I kept all of my Family Fun magazines as well, though I have let that subscription expire for the time being.

Finally, I kept all of my Taste of Home magazines.  I have many complete recent years from having my own subscription, and My Big Martha keeps me supplies with back issues she finds.  I have issues going back into the 90's, and I have no intention of parting with these. 

But what to do with all the magazines I didn't want to hang on to?  This actually has an easy solution, and it's something I started doing years ago (and clearly got out of this habit in the past two years). 

I simply tear out the pictures/recipes/articles I want to keep....

And place them in three-ring binders for easy reference. 

To keep things organized, each binder is organized by topic (Desserts, Holidays, Life Lessons, etc.) and each clipping is kept in a protective plastic sheet. 

Now that I've pared down the magazine collection to a very manageable 150 or so, I plan to keep it under control by 1. not subscribing to so many magazines, and 2. making my practice of clipping and filing the useful articles a more regular habit. 

Now, what to do with all the magazines I no longer need? I'm guessing I have 250 or so that I am ready to part with. 

Readers, do you have any suggesions?  I'd love to hear them!