Tool of the Trade

What’s in Kat’s Purse?

by Kat on 03/02/2011 · 80 comments

in Fashion, Kat, Organization, Tool of the Trade

I’ve noticed that a lot of bloggers have done “What’s in your bag” kind of features, so I thought I’d start with my own bag. So, at left, a snapshot of the contents of my purse… I switch bags often, so I try to keep things to a minimum, I guess. Depending on which bag I’m carrying at the moment, I may also have a small notebook, a small book, a hat, a second sunglasses case, or other reader material like a folded-up wad of about 50 printed pages or so. I also like to have brightly colored things inside my purse, so I can find them and differentiate them easily if it’s a big, dark bag. Anyway, here’s a closer look at the contents, starting clockwise from the upper left-hand corner…

- A Metrocard and my security ID for my day job.

- Pack of tissues. (Hey, I think we all knew I was a little bit snotty.)

- I call the blue-dotted cosmetics case my “problem case” because I don’t really open it unless I have a problem. This contains a pillcase with Advil in it, more medicines that come in take-one-at-a-time-do-not-tamper packs (like Claritin), a few Band-aids, a small bottle of hand sanitizer (which I refill using a bigger one), a few packs of Emergen-C, and tampons, as well as a few I-never-need-them-but-they’re-handy-when-I-do packets such as Shout Wipes, Wet Ones, Basis facial cleansing cloths, Oral B Brush-ups, and toothpicks. Finally, I keep a really small plastic bag that contains two sets of earplugs, which have “R” and “L” marked on them in different colored ink — they have come in handy in those joyous circumstances where you find yourself seated on a four-hour flight right behind a crying infant, or in those “concerts didn’t always used to be this loud” moments. (I have two on the theory that I can offer one to my husband or brother, who comes with me to a lot of concerts.) I find that all of this stuff gets lost/destroyed if I leave it in my purse by itself, but is fine in the smaller cosmetics case.

- An Etsy card case. I keep my Corporette cards and the cards for my day job, as well as gift cards, card-shaped department store coupons, and so forth.

- A pack of gum.

- The dark blue envelope is my “receipts envelope.” This is where I stash taxi receipts, restaurant receipts, and so forth that can be deducted as business and networking expenses. I write the reason on the back of each receipt, as well as keeping a running tally on the envelope itself. I try to keep all blog expenses to my business card, but if I end up paying for a cab in cash then I circle the amount, and if I end up paying with one of my personal cards I put a square around it. At the end of the month I assess the receipts, circles and squares, and make sure that any business expenses are reflected in Mint. Yes, I am insane. I use the dark blue envelope because we bought a pack of them for $2 to mail our Save-the-Dates for our wedding, and we have a ton left over.

- Lipgloss and lipstick of the moment (Nars Canaille).

- Sony Bloggie. I got this at an event a while back, and like it enough to carry it with me — it focuses like nobody’s business, and takes great pictures and movies, provided there’s enough light. (It doesn’t have a flash.)

- Treo. Sigh.

- Super teeny Totes umbrella that I picked up at Staples one day (I think it’s also available at Amazon.)

- Sunglasses case.

- Wallet. I keep my credit cards, debit cards, insurance card, license, living will card, and blank checks to 3 different accounts. (When I take a check to put in my wallet I put the entry in my checkbook in parentheses, and then fill in the amount after I use the check or, more usually, see it cashed on an account statement or in Mint.)

- 2 pens.

- Tiny Curel bottle. I’m addicted to Curel, I swear.

- And finally: a super duper old compact. I should probably be embarrassed about this one, actually — it’s so old that they’ve stopped making the product. I don’t use it very often (obviously) but have bought new powder puffs to put in there.

Readers, what’s in your bags?

{ 80 comments }

Time Management, Down to Minutes

by Kat on 02/15/2011 · 89 comments

in Business Etiquette, No Time, Organization, Tech, Tool of the Trade

Reader M writes in with a question about time management and billing fun…

There was a discussion a few weeks ago regarding timekeeping methods for those of us enslaved to the billable hour. I would LOVE to see a whole post on this. It’s been a hot topic among the associates at my small firm lately, particularly with the increased scrutiny our bills are getting from clients in the late economic times. What do people use to keep time? How efficient are people? Am I normal to have to spend 10 hours in the office to bill 8, or does that mean (a) I need to stop messing around so much (I’m looking at you, online shopping and Corporette threads!), or (b) I need to bill more aggressively? Any helpful tips on being descriptive in bills (5.9 hours for “organizing files”??)?

Tough question, and I’m very curious to see what the readers have to say. I remember being told, as a summer associate (many moons ago and in a very different environment than we find ourselves today) that “everyone bills differently — some people get that flash of brilliance on a case in the middle of the night, or in the shower.” (Um, for the record, I never billed any time for showers or middle-of-the-night-tossing-and-turning — not that work thoughts didn’t ever intrude on “private” time.) (Pictured: Pocket Watch Clock, originally uploaded to Flickr by Svadilfari.) I’ll also point out that it varies from client to client — some prefer you to bill in quarter hours, others in tenths of the hour; some will let you get away with “Drafted brief” as your description; others will want “Researched and wrote section of brief on copyrightability.”

Ultimately, I think time management is a problem for everyone trapped at a desk for multiple hours on end. I don’t think you’re unusual in the least to have to spend 10 hours in the office to bill 8. A few things that I’ve personally looked into include:

the Pomodoro Technique — you focus on ONE THING ONLY for 25 minutes, then get a 5 minute break, then get back to work for that ONE THING ONLY for 25 minutes. You have to restart the timer (or: you’re supposed to restart the timer) if someone or something interrupts your 25 minutes. I like this in theory, but if your boss is fond of frequent, must-answer-now interruptions, it can be a bit frustrating. I downloaded a timer for my computer, but there seem to be several iPhone apps. (Hat tip to the WSJ for their series on time-management.)

RescueTime – there’s a free version and a paid version (I pay $9.95 each month) that literally tracks where you’re going and what you’re doing online — and if you’re gone for more than 5 minutes, a window comes up that asks you where you’ve been. I’d say it works best to supplement and check whatever billing system you already have, not as a stand-alone, but that’s just me. I like that you get a weekly report telling you what you’ve spent your time on, as well as how you “rate” next to other users. (You also get massive information telling you just how long you spent on Gmail, or Corporette, or… well, you get the picture.)

Readers, what are your favorite time-management techniques? Particularly for those of you who bill (especially the more senior staffers and partners amongst you!), what are your personal ethics and tips for billing responsibly?

(L-1)

{ 89 comments }

How to Carry a Blackberry and Wear an ID Badge — with Style

by Kat on 12/02/2010 · 50 comments

in Accessories, Fashion, Jewelry, Organization, Tailoring, Tool of the Trade

Ever wondered how to look stylish while carrying your ID badge and Blackberry? Today’s reader wonders the exact same thing! (Pictured at left: I am Batman – 63/365, originally uploaded to Flickr by Amarand Agasi.)

I thought perhaps you could help answer a question about how to stylishly wear work-mandated items such as badges and blackberrys. At my office we are required to wear our ID badges at all times, in plain view, above the waist. 90% of people opt to wear those cheap cloth neck lanyards, but I just find them hideous and tacky. Is there anything I can use to attach my ID badge (vertical credit card size and shape) to my shirt or jacket without poking holes in my clothes everyday?

The second item is my blackberry. Carrying my purse everywhere (meetings, etc) seems like overkill, and no one else does it. Since I don’t wear always wear a belt I usually just clip the blackberry to my pocket, but this tends to stretch out my pocket or to just look plain strange. But what should I do if my outfit doesn’t have pockets OR a belt? Is there a better solution than just carrying my blackberry in my hand?

For the first item — ID badges. Hmmn. Yes. Well, one option is to find a beaded lanyard instead of a cloth one — a few websites turned up in a Google search (Medalye Designs, Womanrare Designs), and I’m sure you can find a number of Etsy sellers who either sell something similar or will be happy to create something for you. A search for “ID Badge Holder” on Etsy also turns up this gorgeous retractable ID holder that looks like a brooch made from art glass (pictured at right) from Etsy seller jewel2jule. (It has a clip, so no holes are necessary.) Readers, what other fun ways have you found to wear your ID?

As for the second item about the Blackberry — to be honest, I’ve primarily just seen women carry them in one hand to and from meetings. However, situations do arise that require a secure place for your Blackberry — going to a meeting and returning to your office with a box, heavy books, or other awkward items like poster boards. (Oh, the glamorous life!) The blazer pocket is a great “easy” answer to the how-to-carry-the-Blackberry dilemma– the fabric is usually sturdy enough to hold a Blackberry, and the pocket is usually large enough. (I am now curious about whether my love for blazers stems from this very need, especially since my trousers don’t usually have pockets (or if they do I’ve had them sewn shut, which is just more flattering for me). Besides, as well all know, I love a blazer anyway for a quick and easy way to convey authority. (If you think your jacket only has “faux” pockets, take another look — I’ve written before about cutting open pockets and other things that manufacturers often sew shut. In fact, while we’re on this topic, here’s a PSA: Ladies, don’t forget to remove the lightly-sewn “X” that closes the slit on your skirts, jackets, and overcoats!) Another option is to find a leather portfolio that zippers shut in some way — basically like a grown-up Trapper Keeper. (For example, pictured at left is the Samsill Sterling Zipper Pad Holder, available at Office Max for $31.99. Amazon has something similar for $41.40.) I found this particularly handy because in addition to being a way to carry a Blackberry if needed, I could also keep the portfolio “stocked” with tape flags, post-its, extra pen, and more things in there which might come in handy if a “quick” meeting turns into a four-hour ordeal. (I’ll admit it, I kept lip gloss in there too!) You might also want to consider a carrying case for your Blackberry, such as this one from Uncommon Goods.

Readers, do you struggle with carrying Blackberries, IDs, and other work-mandated items? How do you manage?

{ 50 comments }

How I Use Remember The Milk

by Kat on 10/28/2010 · 38 comments

in Information Overload, Lifestyle, Money, Organization, Tool of the Trade

I’ve posted before of my love for Remember the Milk, but it’s come up in two separate conversations I had recently, so I thought I’d post on it again.

As a reminder, this is a free, web-based application, and it e-mails you when your “due date” is up. (You can also check items off it before the due date, and e-mail it “to dos” from your Blackberry — it’s also available as a free “app” on the iPhone and Android, I believe). I head there at least 4-5 times a week for the following kinds of things:

a) Online purchases – If, say, you’ve done a lot of online buying recently (cough, cough — great sales, I swear!) — then this can be handy to remember what you think is arriving in the mail, as well as by when. (Or am I the only one who returns home sometimes to be surprised by a delivery of clothes I hadn’t remembered ordering?) If I remember, I’ll also add “return by” dates as separate to-dos… and if I actually do return something I try to generally ballpark a date (yet another task) by when I should have received the refund on my credit card.

b) Group Coupons - If you’re a fan of the group-buying sites, it can be a total pain to remember what restaurants / spa treatments / etc. you’ve got discounts for, and by when those coupons/vouchers/discounts expire. Enter Remember the Milk… I just throw everything in the bucket and it reminds me what deals are about to expire, by when. (If you’re curious what group-buying sites I’m a member of (and want invite codes), click here — there are so, so many! And really good deals. (In fact, the deals are SO good that Business Insider recently(ish) opined that “there are now so many daily deals for these services that anyone who lives in a major city and pays full price for a massage is being lazy and financially irresponsible.”))

c) Expirations - I blogged about this before, but I really do use it to remind myself of expirations — just in the past few months I’ve been reminded that some prescription eye drops went bad, and that I should really use that quinoa I bought a zillion years ago. (I made a ton of “pork-fried rice” with it, using healthier ingredients, and froze it for later eating.)

d) Paperless Bills - If, like me, you’ve switched a lot of your bills away from the paper statements (and, like me, you get a zillion emails a day and those reminders tend to get lost in the shuffle), this program can be really helpful. For some, it’s because we forget to pay them without the reminder (like, say, my husband’s student loans); for others it’s because we want to make sure we have enough money in the account for an automatic payment (like, say, the mortgage).

e) Blogging - For blogging purposes, I also use it to remind myself of great things I’ve seen while shopping/researching something on line and might want to post about it later. (I’ve found that for this blog, most of the posts are difficult to write far in advance because a lot of the products sell out or have drastically reduced quantities by the time I see something, and I do make best efforts to blog about things with lots of sizes in stock.) (It’s also a good “test” — I liked it then, do I like it now also?)

In terms of HOW I use it — I tend to type one sentence reminders in the text box, trying to remind myself of two dates: the date the item ACTUALLY expires, and the date I want to be reminded of it. So I’ll type something like this: “use Scoop Street 50% off coupon at B. Smith’s near W.46 – expires 10/30/2011 – due 9.1.2011″ — it reminds me of the important things (which site I have to go to for the voucher, where the restaurant is, when the coupon expires, and when I want to be reminded of it. RTM will automatically convert that “due 9/1/2011″ phrase to a deadline. (You can also say things like “due tuesday” or “due four tuesdays from now,” and the program will figure it out.)

Here’s a screencap of my main page:

Readers, do you have a handy to-do program? How do you remember some of the dates/tasks I’ve outlined above?

{ 38 comments }

A Clean and Well Lighted Space: Your Closet?

by Kat on 09/30/2010 · 69 comments

in Kat, Laundry, Lifestyle, Organization, Tool of the Trade

Last week in our conversation of clothes storage for the closet-impaired, some folks started talking about how they kept their work clothes separate from their weekend clothes. Yes! I thought. I do that toooooooooo! But that’s a whole other post! So, ladies, open thread: how do you like to organize your closet? (In fact — we haven’t done this before, but if you love your closet, send us pics and we’ll chose the top 5 to discuss. Either email a .jpg to editor@corporette.com, or upload to Flickr and tag it “corporette.”) My own closets, after the jump…

[click to continue…]

{ 69 comments }

Clothes Storage for the Closet-Impaired

by Kat on 09/21/2010 · 72 comments

in Fashion, Kat, Laundry, Lifestyle, Organization, Tool of the Trade

Reader F writes in with a timely question about clothes storage:

I am moving to NYC next year and will be leaving my lovely apartment where I have three closets all to myself, including 1 walk-in closet, and moving in with my boyfriend where the combined closet space is not even a third of what I have to myself currently. Do you have suggestions for places to keep winter clothes during the summer and vice versa? I’ve heard there are services for this, but wondering if you or your readers might have some good suggestions for places where my clothes won’t get eaten by moths or fall victim to the next bedbug disaster.

I say “timely” if only because I finally put away all of my spring pastels, and swapped them out for darker emerald and earthy tones just a few days ago. My own custom is to:

a) use large storage bags (such as the Natural Cotton Storage Bags from Container Store, pictured above) for off season clothes that should not be hung (e.g., sweaters) or clothes that I otherwise keep folded (socks, hats, workout clothes)

b) push everything that *is* hung either to the back of my closet or relocate them to a second closet, and

c) evaluate my clothes as I move them around for questions such as: 1) do they need repair? 2) will I ever wear this again? c) should I sell, give away, or trash? d) Can I fit into this *rightthisinstant*?

Weirdly, this is one of my favorite traditions each season. I love the fresh colors of pastels, and the darker, more somber colors in the fall. I also love the feeling of rediscovering old clothes that I haven’t seen for a few months. (In fact, I love it so much I’ve started putting away things that aren’t even necessarily seasonal — running t-shirts, as well as at least half my collection of black tops and half my collection of white tops. It may even help me shop less!) I also love that it helps me prune my clothes, and keeps my wardrobe looking fresher.

Now, a few notes about doing it right…

a) Do not pack away anything that is dirty or has been worn. Even if it’s a suit that you’ve only worn once and don’t want to get dry cleaned, I would advise keeping it among your “current” clothes until you dry clean it. Ditto for winter coats and the like — get them dry cleaned first. (Remove the plastic bags and paper, and let them air out for a bit before you pack them away, also.)

b) Cedar it up — places like Bed Bath and Beyond and Amazon abound in cedar moth balls, as well as hanging cedar sticks — it never hurts to stick a few in drawers, in plastic storage bags or hard-cased under-bed bins, or to hang in your closet. Be sure to change them once every year or so — they’re not expensive, and it pays to do so. Occasionally I’ll stick a used dryer sheet in the plastic case, as well as the cedar, to give things a “fresh” scent.

c) Label! It doesn’t have to be fancy — I tend to just scribble on a piece of paper, “Kat’s Fall Clothes,” and stick away. But you’ll be amazed how much you’ll completely forget what’s in there, or even that you have the clothes in there — so do your best to label. (See my own lump of clothes, at right.)

d) For folded clothes, prepare for wrinkles. I still haven’t found a great solution for this — I often just hang things up while I’m taking a shower so they get a bit steamed. While putting away my spring/summer clothes this year, I tried rolling instead of folding — I’ll let you all know how that works out.

e) A thought on Space Saver bags: when we moved recently, I bought a pack of these and was absolutely amazed by how much everything shrunk down. Blankets, sheets, workout clothes, etc — with the air sucked out they were amazingly flat and packable, and I’m glad I had them for the move. However, I will say that almost all of these babies have since leaked air and puffed back up to their usual size — so I’m not sure I would counsel investing in these things if you intend to use them for condensed space for several months at a time.

Fortunately, I’ve never had to deal with a bedbug problem — readers, please write in if you have. Ladies, what are your clothes storage solutions? Any other fun seasonal closet traditions?

{ 72 comments }

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