Best Results Organizing

It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.

Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.

There’s a piece of paper out there that allows you to actively participate in our democracy, but first you have to be organized and obtain it. It’s a voter registration card.

Paper Doll doesn’t mind stirring up a little controversy when it comes to organizing issues (re: the utility of sticky notes vs. floozies or the wisdom of filing bills and statements by month vs. company). However, this post is non-partisan in that it provides information regarding organizing your time and possessions so that you can maintain your right to vote.

That said, it would be disingenuous (read: a big fib) for me to say I don’t care for whom you vote, but whichever candidates you support or side(s) of the issues you take, I’d hate for disorganization to get in your way.

If you are an American citizen over the age of 18 who cares at all about any of the following national issues (couched in the most balanced terminology I could create):

• The Economy
• Healthcare
• Energy
• Foreign Policy
• Veterans’ Affairs
• The Environment
• Immigration
• Reproductive and Family Issues

but are not yet registered to vote, please take heed. There’s not a lot of time left for you to get that voter registration card!

THE BASICS

1) Know your state’s voter registration deadline!

In most states, you must be registered to vote at least 30 days prior to an election. As Election Day 2012 is Tuesday, November 6, that would normally mean registering by Monday, October 8, 2012. However, that is Columbus Day, a federal holiday. Thus, in some states (Alaska, Arkansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington) the deadline may be as early as Saturday, October 6, 2012.

In a number of states, deadlines differ depending on whether you register by mail or in person. And, in the District of Columbia, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and Wyoming, you may register to vote on Election Day at your polling place. (However, Paper Doll strongly discourages you from waiting that long).

For what it’s worth, the predominantly rural state of North Dakota abolished voter registration in 1951. (However, if you’re new to town, start making yourself known to the people at the local diner in your precinct so your right to vote won’t be challenged.)

2) Know your state’s voting eligibility requirements.

Between 1812 and 1860, property ownership qualifications to vote were progressively abolished. In 1870, non-white men gained the right to vote, and in 1920, a mere 92 years ago, American women gained suffrage. In 1924, all Native Americans were granted the right to vote, and in 1971, the minimum voting age requirement was lowered from 21 to 18. However, even with federal regulations in place, individual states have distinct and varying rules regarding voter eligibility.

In general, in order to vote in federal and state elections, you much be a citizen, of sound mind, and over the age of 18.

Most states have residency requirements. However, in 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one-year residency requirements, stating that anything in excess of 30 to 50 days violated equal protection as granted under the Fourteenth Amendment.

Additionally, as part of the 2002 Help America Vote Act, homeless persons may not be denied the right to vote based on the lack of a permanent address. In 13 states (Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Montana, New Jersey, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) and Puerto Rico, no mailing address is required, and in Arizona and Nebraska, homeless citizens may use county clerks’ offices and court houses as their mailing addresses.

Most states have regulations regarding the voting eligibility of convicted felons while in prison or on parole. In Florida, Kentucky and Virginia, convicted felons lose the right to vote in perpetuity.

Assumptions are not organized — do your due diligence regarding your eligibility to make sure nobody erroneously (or intentionally) blocks your lawful right to vote.

3) Fill out the paperwork to register to vote.

Of course, in many states, no actual paper is required and you can register online. The 14 states which allow online voter registration are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington (where you can actually register via a Facebook app).

Registering to vote is generally pretty easy. Call or drop by your Board of Elections to request an application. In 1993, the Motor Voter Act made it possible to register when you apply for or renew a driver’s license.

To find your local Board of Elections or begin the registration process, visit the League of Women Voters’ “Vote 411” voter registration page. Since today is National Voter Registration Day, there are events being held all over the country to help you get registered.

Once you’ve registered, verify that your registration has been successful.

4) Check the information on your voter registration card.

In most cases, your voter registration card will inform you of your voting precinct (which determines where you vote) and districts (i.e., Congressional, State Senate, State House, school district, county/city district, etc.) for individual campaigns, referenda and ballot initiatives. In communities where county and city limits are not entirely clear, it’s important to know exactly in which districts you reside so that you can research candidates and issues appropriate to your situation.

5) Keep your voter registration card in a safe place.

You don’t need to carry your voter registration card around in your wallet; just file it with your VIP papers in your family files, and make a notation on your calendar to bring your card to the polls on Election Day (or on early voting days, if your state allows voting in the days prior to an election).

6) Bring required identification to the polls on election day.

Many states have new legislation requiring, in addition to your voter registration card, photo identification. This doesn’t mean that you can bring your workplace ID, library card or student ID. You also can’t use your Social Security Card, Medicare Card, or Department of Veteran’s Affairs card. In most cases, you will have to present a STATE-ISSUED PHOTO ID CARD on election day.

It’s key to note that different states have different regulations. For example, in Tennessee, acceptable forms of ID include a valid driver’s license or other photo ID card issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety, valid passports and military IDs, and valid photo IDs issued by any other state. By comparison, in Alabama, valid tribal ID cards and student and employee cards from any Alabama college or university, will also count. In Kansas, government-issued concealed carry handgun or weapon licenses and government-issued public assistance ID cards will be accepted as identification. In Pennsylvania, an ID from a “personal care” facility, like an assisted living facility, will also suffice.

Familiarize yourself with the new legislation to make sure you have whatever valid, current identification is required in your state to ensure that you will be able to cast your ballot. Again, do not make assumptions that the laws have not changed in your locale. The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law has released a detailed compilation of Voting Law Changes in 2012, by state.

If you have none of the appropriate categories of identification required by your state, you will need to prove your identity in order to get a state-issued photo ID card. In most cases, this will require presenting a copy of your birth certificate. If physical limitations obstruct your ability to drive, contact your state’s League of Women Voters and a representative should be able to locate alternatives for transporting you to your department of motor vehicles to get a non-driver ID card, and to the polls on election day.

OTHER ISSUES

Have other concerns? Perhaps you’re thinking:

“I don’t care about national issues.”

We professional organizers try to persuade our clients that acquiring and keeping things “just in case” merely contributes to clutter. That’s true in most situations, but there are certain things we need to obtain (and keep accessible) “just in case” to preserve our safety and security. This includes (but is not limited to):

• driver’s license or identification cards
• Social Security cards
• credit reports from all three credit reporting agencies
• health care records
• passports
• insurance policies
• emergency funds

A voter registration card is like all of the above, allowing you to preserve your hard-fought, hard-won right to have your voice count. You may truly not care (enough) about any national political issues, but you never know when you’ll care about a school board vote that impacts your kids, a pothole on your street or a neighbor’s teenage beau, boosting Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” at maximum decibels every night. Preserve your right to have a say in how your community (school district, town, city, state and nation) will be governed. Register to vote and get your registration card…just in case!

“I don’t identify with just one party.”

Not 100% in the red or blue column? Not a problem. While many states require you to register with a particular party to vote in various primaries, you do not have to be a member of a political party to vote in general elections and in many other types of elections. Also, there are many, many other parties at the national, local and state levels, and in most states you can also choose to register as an independent, unaffiliated voter.

“I’m a U.S. citizen, but currently live outside the U.S. or am deployed in the military.”

If you are an American citizen reading Paper Doll from somewhere outside of the U.S., avail yourself of the following non-partisan sites to help you register and vote from abroad:

Federal Voting Assistance Program
Overseas Vote Foundation
Youth Vote Overseas
Election Assistance Commission

• “I’m not going to be in my political district/precinct on Election Day.”

If you will be away at college, traveling, disabled, or recovering from a medical procedure on Election Day, you can submit an absentee ballot by mail, but you must still be registered to vote by your state’s deadline. Register to vote, then contact your county’s Board of Elections or your state’s Secretary of State for an absentee ballot.

Organize your corner of society — register to vote!

Today’s special post is another installment of our ongoing series of reviews of products brought to us by our friends at Shoplet, operator of the nifty and prolific Shoplet blog.

As we’ve discussed before, one of the reasons we develop desk clutter can be laid squarely at the feet (if they had feet) of our writing implements. Sure, lackluster paper management leads to desk pileups, but so too does acquisition of (and failure to cull) writing implements and other desk accessories that just don’t work. As I said in a prior review:

We buy with a flourish, but we are too often disappointed when the pens and pencils, highlighters and markers fall short of their promises, or of our expectations, and then they languish as clutter in our drawers, or the bottoms of our bags, or our pen mugs, ignored until the ink dries to dust. That’s why an inside look can be so important, and hence my delight at reviewing these office supplies.

When the UPS man delivered the lovely pen portfolio case (and its nifty stripe-y guardian) from the good people of Zebra, I was a bit surprised.

I was expecting to get two pens to examine and review. In fact, the interior held nine writing implements: pens, pencils and highlighters of various kinds.

On the left, we see the retractable Zebra F-301, also known as The Original. It has a cool-to-the-touch stainless steel barrel and a non-rubbery, yet non-slip, textured grip for writing comfort and ease. Since every classy pen has a pencil partner, Zebra included new Zebra M-301 0.7mm mechanical pencil.

In the center, you see a blue 1.0mm (medium point) Zebra Z-Grip Ballpoint Retractable Pen, a fairly traditional-looking pen with a clear-barrel (so you can check your link supply). The standard Z-Grip also comes in Green, Violet, Orange, Teal, Fuschia, Lime and Light Green.

The Z-Grip is available in a variety of styles, too. Fans of quirky, colorful pens might enjoy the Daisies line of Z-Grips. The one above (getting the little zebra’s attention) is light green, though I must admit I’d prefer Zebra’s fuschia version.

The Daisies also come in Teal, Orange and Violet. Z-Grip also has an Animals line, with Cheetah and Tiger prints, and the Zebra-print version you can see in the portfolio case photo below.

The non-refillable Z-Grip is a fairly standard ballpoint pen. I appreciate that it’s lightweight without feeling as though it might spring out of my fingers if too much pressure were applied, and I like that the barrel is straight, rather than curvy, and that the color-coded rubber grip has both smooth and ridged portions to accommodate people who like to grip more closely to the tip and those who like to “choke up on the bat.” While I’d be uncomfortable using the ribbed portion, I have plenty of colleagues who purchase after-market grips to create similar handling.

The writing experience is what I’d have expected from a traditional ballpoint. If I exert little pressure, I get a serviceable, if thinner, and slightly more faint, line; the harder I press, the darker and more satisfying the color’s vibrancy. (Note: the grey ink in the green Daisy line pen was so light that it could have been mistaken for an unsharpened pencil. Then again, how often do you select grey ink?) Certainly no excessive force is necessary. Pleasantly, the Z-Grip provided a smear-free, jump-free, blob-free ink delivery.

The Z-Grip is just very much like a traditional, moderate-barreled (non-stick) ballpoint. This is not to damn with faint praise — for those who like the ballpoint experience and want something quotidian, but with a little more gravitas than a “stick” pen, the Zebra provides a sturdy, smooth delivery of high-quality ink colors.

For comparision’s sake, although I was not asked to review it, Paper Doll‘s favorite in the package was the Zebra Z-Grip Gel pen. The gel in this traditional ballpoint style flowed so smoothly and felt so much more like a metal-tip roller ball than a ballpoint, that I could easily see using it when my favorite pen is not at hand.

On the right panel of the portfolio, you see the Zebra Z-Mulsion ballpoint (which comes in blue, black and red) and its upscale buddy. The Zebra Z-Mulsion EX Ballpoint is a 1.0 mm medium point retractable ballpoint pen with emulsion-type ink.

The Z-Mulsion line is based on a new kind of (non-traditional and non-gel) ink that creates, according to Zebra, “a perfect balance of oil and water. It is quick-drying and smear resistant while maintaining a brilliant and bold writing line. It is the best of a ball point and gel in one!” The Z-Mulsion EX comes in eight colors: black, blue, red, green, violet, light blue, pink and orange.

The Z-Mulsion EX ballpoint has a nice weightiness to it — it’s neither too light nor too heavy, although the curvy barrel is thicker than I prefer. (My usual pen, the Pentel Energel, has a straight barrel that’s perhaps 1.5mm thinner.) The grip is smooth and blended with the (thicker) barrel to make for fairly easy handling.

The ink is, indeed, fabulous. Shoplet and Zebra must know me well, because the Z-Mulsion EX Ballpoint they sent was filled with pink ink, and a glorious, vivid pink it is! I usually eschew ballpoints because they require exerting so much more pressure than on a roller-style or metal-tip gel pen, and I prefer mental exertion to physical effort. However, the Z-Mulsion EX Ballpoint required zero effort to glide across the paper. No sticking, no blobbing, no bubbling.

As for being quick-drying and non-smearing, I found this to be mostly true, particularly with standards types of paper, like writing paper, sticky-notes and non-coated cardboard. However, on glossy paper, like that found in magazines, the ink did smear when touched, even after thirty-seconds. By comparison, my usual pen is smear-proof on glossy magazines after ten seconds. In general, however, unless you’re left-handed or trying to annotate this month’s issue of Real Simple, you should be fine.

I could certainly learn to get used to the wider barrel, but the one thing that drove me to the point of madness was the retractable “clicky” portion of the pen. It’s “loose” when the pen point is ejected and available, so if you shake the pen around as you contemplate (as Paper Doll does), there’s a maddening maraca noise. I should note that, just as I rarely use ballpoints, I also rarely use retractable pens, so I’m not sure how common an issue this is to the product category.

The remaining item in the portfolio was the Zebra Z-HL highlighter, which promises to write on fax and carbonless papers, and has a see-through, three-chambered ink system to keep it from getting dried out. Although orange is my least favorite color, the nice people of Shoplet and Zebra could not have known that. This highlighter, as well as most of the pens in the portfolio case, will make their way to attendees of my next pro-bono speaking engagement. (But not the Z-Grip Gel pen or the pink Z-Mulsion with the noisy clicker. I’m holding on to those…for more testing!)

Disclosure: I received these products for review purposes only, and was given no monetary compensation. The opinions, as always, are my own. (Who else would claim them?)

Paper Doll‘s first job was as a page at the Clearfield Branch of the Erie County Public Library — the perfect stomping grounds for a Professional-Organizer-in-Training. Granted, the value of some skills (like maneuvering through a card catalog) might prove negligible as the 21st century progresses (unless we face a Revolution-like, world-wide loss of power).

But I still marvel at systems I now use professionally, like organizing toddler books front-outward in dishpans (like how albums used to be displayed in record stores) so that little hands can flip each book forward or backward without destroying a bookshelf. After all, toddlers can’t read, so the spines of books are fairly useless to them; a series of dishpans (filled with vertically arrayed, face-out books) lets little ones tidily access any covers that strike their fancies.

From a professional organizer’s perspective, the best thing about libraries is the opportunity to allow yourself to trust that you need not maintain the entire world at your house. Those four hundred issues of National Geographic making your guest room floor buckle, but which you never approach except to dust and sigh? The library has them, too, for whenever you want to learn about the mating habits of the elephants of the Serengeti…and you’ll never have to dust them. (The Nat Geos, not the elephants. Well, those too.)

Of course, I’m not saying to give up purchasing books and magazines, but understand that there’s an alternative to becoming an accidental collector of books you’ll never read (or never read again). If you are overwhelmed by clutter in your space, but have a voracious hunger to read (or listen to music, or watch movies), check your public library’s collections first before running off to Amazon or your local bookseller or shopping mall.

The biggest lesson I learned is that a library is a treasure-trove of resources that most patrons never explore. Sure, people know about the books and magazines, and nowadays, movies. But our friends at the American Library Association have put together a slide show of ways to put your library card to work for you.

(Not a fan of slide shows? Review all 60 suggestions in list form.)

So, what magical powers does your library card bestow? Your library card, what bibliophiles and library peeps like to call “the smartest card in your wallet,” grants access to a vast array of offerings.

ITEMS TO BORROW

Although some special collections and reference materials can only be read in-house, the majority of tangible items at libraries can be borrowed and taken home for at least a week, and sometimes up to a month, including:

• Books in print and audio books on tapes and CDs
• Electronic books and digital magazines available through digital download services like Overdrive, OneClick Digital, TumbleBooks and Zinio
• Magazines and trade journals
• Graphic novels and comic books
• DVDs (including exercise and how-to books)
• CDs
• Phonograph records (yes, really!)
• Sheet music
• Museum passes — Call ahead to see what museum passes your library maintains and ascertain whether you’ll need to make reservations.

Other items may be available for same-day, in-library borrowing, such as:

• Board games
• Classic games, like chess, checkers and backgammon
• Computer and video games
• Video game controllers
• Headphones

Remember, your library is likely to be a member of one or more library systems through which you can request an interlibrary loan.

You can also reserve materials that are currently out (or at another branch). In most cases, if your library is able to send you a digital notification of a reserved item’s availability, there will be no charge; for older libraries still using postcard systems, your reservation may be about the cost of a postage stamp.

FREE SERVICES

Computer Access — At most public libraries, computer access is free; you’ll only pay for pages you choose to print.

Wi-Fi and Wired Internet Access — Not everyone has high speed internet access, and though it might seem otherwise, less than 49% of Americans have smart phones. Internet access is not ubiquitous. Get connected!

Database Access — Public libraries subscribe to an amazing array of genealogical, financial, medical, legal and other databases (including LexisNexis, PsychInfo, EBSCO — even the Chilton Auto Repair Database!) which are made available to patrons. Need work? Libraries are a superb source of employment guidance and job search databases.

Tech Support — Many libraries offer free courses in basic computer and web skills. Also, most librarians are able to provide guidance on common computer issues.

Test Prep — Public libraries provide online access to subscription databases for SAT, GRE, LSAT and other practice standardized tests.

Homework Help — Librarians won’t do your children’s homework, but they’re fonts of information regarding selection of the appropriate resources. Many public libraries also have homework assistance hot-lines and online homework help.

Tax Prep Assistance — Libraries don’t supply tax advice directly, but AARP and other community organizations provide volunteer, pro-bono tax preparation assistance at most branches.

Delivery — Not everyone is able to get to the library. Elderly, housebound or disabled patrons can often request to have library materials delivered to them. Contact your local library for available resources and review the offerings of the National Library Service for the Blind and Handicapped.

Children’s Entertainment — Public libraries have story hours, magic shows, movies, puppet shows, arts and craft activities and other events to keep children engaged while giving parents some breathing space.

LOW-COST SERVICES

In addition to the wide variety of free services provided by libraries, a number of services are supplied at limited costs. These include:

Faxing
Photocopying
Printing
Scanning

Notary Services — Call your library branch in advance to find out if and when the services of a notary public will be available.

Passport Services — Often the largest branch in a library system will assist with passport application processing.

Book Sales — Public library funding is always challenging. To bolster financial resources, libraries accept donations of books, magazines and digital materials for resale at periodic sales. Declutter throughout the year, letting go of items you know you’ll never access again, and add to the library’s coffers. If you’ve got adequate willpower, peruse the book sales for low prices on titles you can’t find elsewhere.

MEETING SPACES

Libraries maintain private rooms for not-for-profit endeavors, including:

Book Clubs
Game Groups
Community Meetings
Guest Lectures and Classes (Last summer, Paper Doll took courses in origami and how to use the library’s electronic book borrowing systems. It’s safe to say I’m more proficient at the latter than the former.)

QUIET SPACES

Some days, you just need to get away from the kids or the office and find a quiet space to write your novel, balance your checkbook or think through your life issues. Libraries are safe, temperature-controlled, and, unless you’re sitting right next to the children’s area, fairly serene.

THIS IS NOT YOUR GRANDMA’S LIBRARY

Haunted by the memories of the stuffy, dusty libraries of your childhood? The days of Marian the Librarian are long gone. Nowadays, Librarians Do Gaga, and libraries show up in the darnedest places, like abandoned Walmarts.

(For more, check out Flavorwire’s 10 Wonderful Libraries Repurposed from Unused Structures.)

Library services have gotten creative. Some let patrons “borrow” dogs so that reluctant young readers can practice their skills by reading to nonjudgmental and snuggle-able canines. Others libraries participate in HumanLibrary.org and other programs where you can “check out” a volunteer expert.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT

Still not sure what the library can offer you? How about saving and organizing those little green pieces of paper in your wallet? This simple worksheet will automatically calculate the financial value of your library card in terms of annual savings. (The cognitive, emotional and societal values are immeasurable, of course.)

GET YOUR LIBRARY CARD

I always ask new clients, “Do you have a calendar? A file system? A will? A fire extinguisher?” On the advice of librarian extraordinaire Jessamyn West, I’ll now be asking, “Do you have a library card?”

National Library Card Sign-Up Month is the perfect time to get a card for yourself or your kids. (Check out DotMomming‘s Kate Hannigan’s motivating, heartwarming tale of getting her son his first library card.)

1) Locate your public library.

2) Fill out an application, available at your branch or on most public library web sites.

3) Show valid ID with your current address. If you’re new to town and don’t yet have an ID bearing your address, most libraries will accept two items bearing your name and street address (but not PO box), such as current utility bills (e.g., telephone, gas, electric or cable), personal checks, voter registration cards, and other mail with postmarks from the past 30 days.

4) Use your new library card often. Plan a weekly visit with your family and explore your library’s offerings.

5) Set up a Library Shelf in your house where all the items you borrow from the public library “live” when they’re not being read or used. Having a set location where library items belong when not in use prevents them from going missing and assures you’ll be able to return them on time. (Don’t have a regularly-scheduled library day? When you check out your items, note the due date in your task app or on your calendar.)

DON’T FORGET TO GO DIGITAL

Once you’ve got your library card, be sure to set up your online library account. This will allow you to reserve/request items, renew items and check your due dates, all from the comfort of your own home.

Please, share your library stories. What do you love most about your library? Do you remember getting your first card? (Little could Paper Mommy have realized that one visit to the public library when I was three could have led to both my first job and my latest blog post.)

Show us your library card!

It’s time again to round up the quixotic and intriguing paper-related issues, products and ideas that have popped up while we’ve been having other discussions.

THE FUTURE OF PAPER, REDUX

As loyal readers know, the subject of the future of paper is always dear to me. I was delighted to read the following tweet from technology expert (and my college friend) Ross Rubin:

Saturday’s New York Times piece, In Defense of the Power of Paper by Phyllis Korkki, elaborated on this point. I encourage you to read the column and share your your thoughts.

I agree with the statements regarding the unique role paper plays in organizing our time and thoughts. I was particularly taken with Levenger CEO Steve Leveen’s statement that “digital technology is better for socializing and sharing, while paper is best for quiet contemplation.”

Beyond that, while I acknowledge the improvement of screen technology, especially in light of the iPad and Kindle, I still think the findings of the referenced (and now ancient) 1997 study, are valid regarding the theory that comprehension of paper text is superior to that which is read digitally or online.

Perhaps there is a generational chasm, but I find my attention span, and therefore my intellectual involvement, in any long-form text diminishes when I read it electronically vs. on paper. My brain, and my eyes, tire after half an hour perusing my Kindle, while I can read the same content (say, a Jane Austen novel) for hours on end from a well-thumbed paperback without distraction or ennui. Carrying thousands of books in my Kindle organizes my book collection, but it also seems to clutter my cognitive capacity.

Readers, what do you think?

LETTER WRITING LOVE

In August, we talked about the romance of postal mail and sending letters and postcards. So, I was understandably delighted when the incomparable Jeri Dansky called my attention to a Swiss Miss design post about The Letter Ledger from Paper & Type.

The 5 1/4″ x 7″ wire-bound ledger is designed to organize information related to incoming & outgoing correspondence, similar to previously-discussed organized tracking of books read, movies viewed and fortune cookie fortunes acquired.

Inside the Kraft cover page, the ledger includes 42 pages of white writing paper (enough for more than 500 entries) printed with category headings. Affixed to the inside front cover is a small envelope to hold postage of varying denominations (because you don’t want to overpay for postcards!) and the rear inside cover serves as an address book for your most beloved correspondence. Log the dates you received or sent mail and the highlights, or note the essentials of your reply and even which stationery you used to send your response. Jane Austen would approve.

This old-world ledger fascinates Paper Doll, a devotee of all-things-John-Adams, as such ledgers for tracking correspondence are described in his various biographies. (If you’ve never read the letters between John and Abigail, I assure you, they’re eye-openers for examining late 18th and early 19th century gender equality!)

The Letter Ledger retails for $18.

Of course, if your tastes are more sleek and modern, perhaps you’d be intrigued by the Moleskine Black Line.

The Black Line is an all-black collection, featuring black-bound notebooks, with black-leaved pages for journaling, writing letters, organizing and collecting photos and postcards, and more. It’s dark and gothic (or at least goth), and yet elegant, likely to satisfy both Serious Artistes and college sophomores listening to Morrissey on auto-repeat.

The collection includes a line of fluorescent gel pens and pencils to ensure that anything you write will pop off the page instead of lurking in the inky blackness.

DATES WITH DESTINY

During the summer, we’re often content to let one day flow into the next, but as the weather turns brisk (which gee, I hope it will do soon), planning our hours, days, weeks and months takes on greater importance. Thanks go out to Dr. Joe Stirt of Book Of Joe for introducing me to the Monthly Sticky Note.

This nifty little minimalist planner from Mochi Things measures 2.8″ x 5.9″ with fifteen adhesive-backed calendar-blocked pages to a pad. The to-be-planned week starts on a Monday, with Saturday and Sunday hanging out at the far right of the page, which may confuse some users. Circle a number in the upper left corner to reflect the month of the year, and add in your own dates. Yes, it’s a little DIY, but each pad is only $1.95.

If your days are too jammed to maintain only a monthly view, Mochi Things has a Daily Sticky Note pad measuring 5.8″ x 1 1/2″. With a bigger area of space on which to write and adhesive placed throughout the middle of the note to maximize positioning options, the daily version is appealing. However, I’m not sure I understand why the red section opposite the blue “Today” area is marked “Yesterday” unless the notes also yield a Dr. Who-level power of time travel. In which case, $4.95 per pad goes from being an average value to quite an excellent one.

BOOK LOVE WITHOUT BOOK CLUTTER

For true book lovers, it’s hard to ever imagine that books could constitute clutter, but sometimes our passion for books may exceed the space in which we can store them. To limit the clutter, we’ve had a six-part series on keeping book excess to a minimum through book renting, trading, and borrowing, and by embracing technology.

However, even when book space is limited, vertical space can show off a passion for literature.

Postertext bills itself as creating “book posters for reading enthusiasts” and delivers on its promise in two ways. Postertext’s amazing collection of posters visually represent famous literary scenes in black-and-white “sketches.” However, when you get close, you see that the artistry is actually made up of miniaturized portions of text from the books. Using the concept of negative space, the design is made up of white space, surrounded by the oh-so-tiny text.

In Postertext’s words:

The FAQ page states that the text is large enough to be legible for someone with “normal eyesight,” but given that some tomes are epic in length as well as scope, the entire text of most books will not fit on a poster. The Adventure of Tom Sawyer‘s poster contains the entire book, while Moby Dick includes only 26 chapters. (Maybe if we could all agree that Melville might easily have excised the chapters on the history of whaling, more than just posters could be improved.)

Postertext focuses on ancient to “contemporary” classic literature, from The Iliad and The Odyssey, to Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities, to The Great Gatsby. Women authors are well represented, and you can find Pride and Prejudice, Little Women, Jane Eyre and Anne of Green Gables among the collections. Science fiction and fantasy fans have also not been ignored, as The Metamorphosis, Flatland, Frankenstein, The Time Machine and Peter Pan are all available.

Postertext only accepts Canadian currency, so be prepared to have your credit card payment automatically converted. Postertext ships to the U.S., the UK and various locales in Europe and Asia. (Check the FAQ.) The posters range from $32-35 (plus shipping), Canadian.

For something even more upscale and personalized, there’s Ideal Bookshelf. Artist Jane Mount will custom-create a painting depicting the books on your own (actual or fantasy) bookshelf. A custom painting for up to ten book spines is $310 for a creation that is either 9″ x 12″, 10″ x 14″, or 13″ x 19″ (unframed). Fifteen books on a 10″ x 14″ or 13″ x 19″ (unframed) masterpiece will run you $380. If your literary appetite is voracious, pick up to twenty books for $460 for a piece that is 10″ x 14″ or 13″ x 19″ (unframed). (Shipping is extra.)

You send photos of your books spines, and Mount takes 4-6 weeks to design a painting to reflect your reading tastes. If you don’t actually own the books, Mount can use photos from her collection, or track down your titles for an additional fee. The site notes that the customized creations are original gouache & ink paintings on Fabriano hot press paper. (Paper Doll has no idea what that means, but it sounds luxurious!)

For those of us not quite ready to be full-fledged patrons of the arts, Mount sells prints of a dazzling array of authorial collections in various sizes (5 1/2″ x 7 1/2″, 8 x 10″, 11″ x 14″, or 16″ x 20″ (unframed)) for $28, plus shipping. Bookshelf designs are wide-ranging, from topic-specific (cooking, fashion) to author-specific to magnificent and creative themes. The children’s classics bookshelf would be ideal (no pun intended) for a baby shower gift.

I have my eye on one of two Jane Austen collections, which are both far more visually appealing than my mismatched stockpile of Penguin and Signet paperbacks.

Ideal Bookshelf, Jane Mount

Ideal Bookshelf also sells themed note cards (based on the same variety of prints), and a book of Mount’s work, My Ideal Bookshelf, edited by Thessaly La Force, goes on sale in November. In it, leading cultural figures (including Alice Waters, Malcolm Gladwell, Michael Chabon, Alice Waters, James Patterson, Judd Apatow, Nancy Pearl, Patti Smith and Dave Eggers) share the books that that defined their dreams and ambitions. (It’s available for pre-order.)

As we journey towards autumn, the season of crisp new notebooks and pre-holiday catalogs, Paper Doll encourages you to use paper responsibly.

With Labor Day behind us, summer is all but officially over. The kids are back at school and that sense of “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer” ennui needs to be packed away. It’s time again to focus on tackling the clutter and the daily tasks, and one of the ways we motivate ourselves is by acquiring new, fun office supplies.

While a cute but non-functional tool merely adds to our clutter supply, Back-To-School (or Back-to-the-School-of-Life) is a great time to indulge in functional items that uplift, charm and prompt greater organization. Today, we’re going to take a peek at a few items we can “stick up” — right in front of our faces — to keep us in a task-oriented, organizing mode.

WRITE AND WRITE AGAIN

At last month’s NAPO-Georgia meeting, the product of the month was a curious little item. At first, it seemed like any other small dry-erase tool, not much different (except in size) from the excellent At-A-Glance WallMates™ or other dry-erase boards we’ve previously discussed. But this little charmer was a tad different.

RE:writes offer a new kind of write-on/wipe-off surface. Rather than boards with hard backings, they’re thin, flexible and can adhere to practically any surface without the aid of magnets, sticky adhesive or magic fairy dust. Our NAPO chapter Membership Director, Helen Preston, illustrated the sticking power of RE:writes by affixing one to (and then removing it from) the (metal) conference room door, the (wallpapered) wall and even the (be-sweatered) shoulder of a fellow NAPO-Georgia member. It was cool!

RE:writes, from It’s Academic, are appealing from multiple perspectives:

They’re already small, so they fit neatly in tiny spaces, like the interior of the door of your student’s locker or inside the cover of an academic binder, and can be cut to fit even tinier nooks and crannies.

They’re dry-erase, so they’re re-usable without wasting scads of paper and they won’t turn into cluttered floozies. Write your tasks or shopping lists, do the deeds, erase and start over!

They’re re-positionable, and can be easily taken with you. Add your ongoing errand list on a RE:writes note at home, then stick it up on your dashboard so you don’t forget any of your stops.

They use no glue or sticky adhesive, so there’s no residue left behind, but because they’re also not magnetic, they’ll still stick to multiple surfaces, including the fancy new kitchen appliances, like stainless steel fridges to which magnets won’t attach. Have an emergency phone list for the babysitter? Store it inside the kitchen cabinet door and just move it to the fridge when the sitter is coming over. No mess, no stress.

They adhere to practically any surface, so you can stick them on the mirror in your children’s bathroom to remind them to brush, to your hubby’s coffee mug to remind him to take his vitamins, and to a car window, to remind your sister to not push the automatic window button, because it’ll make the defective window fall into the body of the car door. (That last one might only work for Paper Doll‘s ancient dollmobile.)

They’re reusable. According to It’s Academic’s president, Bruce Shapiro, RE:writes have a specialized patent-pending plastic core that acts like thousands of tiny suction cups, enabling them to cling to almost any surface. This plastic core remains “grippy.” If the surface gets coated with dust, dirt or other ickiness, RE:writes are washable — just rinse with water, and once they’re dry, they’re ready to use again.

Each RE:writes package includes a dry-erase marker with eraser.

RE:writes come in 50 color and size combinations, and are available at OfficeMax, Walmart, Walgreens, and RiteAid, for a suggested retail price starting at $5.99.

RE:writes is a SheKnows Parenting Awards 2012 nominee.

MARTHA MANIA

Another new-and-nifty dry-erase option comes from domestic doyenne Martha Stewart. It seems Martha’s partnership with Avery has really led to some prolific product development in recent months, and I was delighted to learn of this newest entry from my colleague Deb Lee, writing for Unclutterer last week. (That busy gal — she recently acquired SOHO Tech Training into D. Allison Lee Professional Organizers‘ fold, blogs for her own Organize to Revitalize and for Unclutterer, and is on the Clutter Diet pro team and Rubbermaid’s Professional Organizer Squad! And she’s a mommy! When does this woman sleep? Good thing she’s organized!)

The Martha Stewart Home Office with Avery Adhesive Dry Erase Decals are, in many ways, the more aesthetically-oriented sibling to the ever-efficient At-A-Glance WallMates™. Because they’re adhesive sheets, instead of a large white board, you’ve got more flexibility for placement on virtually any non-porous surface — stick them on plastic, glass, windows, wooden or metal doors, and drywall.

Intriguingly, the flexible sheets conform to both flat and curved surfaces. I’m picturing them on the rounded walls of the Oval Office, or curved interior plastic moldings of a private jet. (What? Paper Doll can’t be aspirational?)

The decals come in a variety of styles, both pre-printed and blank. Martha and Avery came up with three squared-off, pre-printed varieties.

The Weekly Planner has seven simple columns labeled Sunday through Saturday. Plan meals, wardrobes (complete with accessories), family activities, tasks and to-dos, and so on. In red and grey on a white background, the horizontally-arrayed planner is 5 7/8″ x 15 7/8″.

The Important Numbers Sheet is perfect for when Grandma and Grandpa come to babysit, or for finding information when stressed or in a hurry. The red and grey theme, on a white background, is arrayed vertically and measures 7 7/8″ x 11 7/8″.

I spotted the Kitchen Measurement Chart on a client’s fridge last week. There’s a milk-bottle pattern with measurement equivalencies on the right and a large window for grocery lists or notes on the left two-thirds of the decal. In a red and grey theme on a white background, the horizontal decal measures 7 7/8″ x 11 7/8″.

In addition to the pre-printed sheets sold separately, the line also includes a package of all three.

Martha and Avery have also designed some blank decals with colored borders in shapes that, as Deb Lee pointed out, make them look a bit like giant gift tags. The “Flourish” pattern of decals are white, with grey borders. Buy one large decal measuring 8 3/8″ x 10 7/8″ or a two-pack where each measures 5 7/8″ x 7 7/8″.

  

The red border decals in the “Classic” design are straighter edged, with rounded cut-out corners, and can be purchased as large single decals measuring 8 3/8″ x 10 7/8″ or two-packs of 5 7/8″ x 7 7/8″ decals. All styles and sizes of the blank decals can be arrayed vertically or horizontally.

As they’re dry-erase and re-positionable, you can use them repeatedly (though they’re not washable), reducing your use of paper while maintaining order in your life.

To see them in action, check out the video, and be sure to read Deb Lee’s first-person user review at Unclutterer, too.

Individual Martha Stewart Home Office With Avery Adhesive Dry Erase Decals retail for about $4-$5, with multi-packs priced at around $11.

POCKET

Designer Pu-Tai created the Peeling Tales, a combination grease pencil/chinagraph marker and narrative-delivery system, as well as the Solarise lampshade, which depicts the London skyline while mimicking the effect of sunrise through a thermochromic color-changing outer layer. Spiffy stuff. Well, Pu-Tai has done it again (in collaboration with Ayda Anlagan and Paul Blease), only this time, the result is both functional and design-friendly.

Pocket, basically an upside-down sticky note with some extra adhesive on the sides, creates a tiny…well, pocket. It’s simple in that sort of “why didn’t didn’t I think of that?” genius way.

The design is practically perfect for keeping a few dollars, a receipt, or a couple of business cards handy. I wouldn’t mind seeing it in multiple styles, though, perhaps double-wide, and in a variety of colors.

If only it were actually on the market. Sadly, Pu-Tai is more concerned with aesthetics than production, and nobody is making versions of Pocket for sale. You can attempt to make your own with the help of this sketch from Plugin-Design:

But perhaps it might just be best if 3M would negotiate with Pu-Tai to add Pocket to the already expansive Post-it line-up of pocket solutions?

Knowing what you have to accomplish and keeping that information front-and-center is one key to organizing your life. Setting auditory alerts and linking aspirational activities to established rituals can help, but to make sure you don’t get held up by all the competing clutter and important things in your life, stick ’em up!