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Coffee Break – Zip Around Portfolio

12/06/2012 By 258 Comments

Serapian Zip Around Portfolio Reader M wrote in to recommend this leather portfolio at Barney’s, noting: “Alas I don’t have it so I can’t vouch personally (so expensive!), but I’m pretty sure I would DIE of happiness if somebody gifted me this gorgeous, gorgeous zip-around leather portfolio.  It should even fit legal size paper, judging from the dimensions.”  Le sigh — I love a good zip around portfolio, but they are so difficult to find online!  This one is $385… readers, where do you get great leather portfolios and the like?  Serapian Zip Around Portfolio
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Filed Under: Coffee Break, Office Supplies

Staying Cool in a Hot Office

12/04/2012 By 54 Comments

Fan, originally uploaded to Flickr by Ryk Neethling.How do you stay cool in an overheated office? Reader L — who notes that she is nowhere near “hot flash” territory — wants some advice on working with some overactive radiators:

You’ve written about staying warm in a cold office. What about staying cool in a hot office? The weather outside is frightful, but my office feeling as hot as fire is not so delightful.

Great question, and I’m curious to hear what readers say. (Pictured.) Some tips off the top of my head:

  • Dress in layers. Obviously. You may want to particularly look into breathable fabrics like cotton, linen, and silk (which can block cold winds outside but still be comfortable inside).

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Etiquette, CoWorker Problems, Layering Pieces, Office Supplies, Weather, Work-Related Pain

How to Set Up the Best Home Office

02/02/2012 By 89 Comments

New Home Office, originally uploaded to Flickr by TypeFiend.I’ve recently gotten a few requests on how to set up a home office. For example, from reader B:

I work part of the week out of my law firm’s office and part of the week from home. I would love to hear ideas for organizing a home office that isn’t just boring filing cabinets (but I need somewhere to stash files – points for nontraditional filing cabinet ideas).

Great topic, particularly as more and more employers offer tech budgets and other accommodations to make working from home easier. (Pictured: New Home Office, originally uploaded to Flickr by TypeFiend.) Some must-haves:

- A good Internet connection. I always take my Internet connection for granted until I visit friends or family with a slow connection, and I marvel at how they get any work done at home at all.  (I think “a fast enough computer” goes without saying.)

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Office Decor, Office Supplies, Telecommuting/Flex-Time/Part-Time Arrangements

The Perfect Planner/Calendar

01/05/2012 By 114 Comments

Pictured: Super cute custom day planners by Erin Condren, available at Tiny Prints (get 20% off any order + f/s when you spend $99, offer ends 1/10).Today, reader D wonders if she has to make her own Franken-planner to find the absolute best planner out there…

I realize this may be a bit too late to be useful for the upcoming new year, I would love to see a post regarding the various paper calendars/planners Corporette users prefer.  I was digging through archives and read the entire post/comment thread regarding notebook and legal pad preferences, and I thought a similar thread about planners would be just as interesting.  A girlfriend and I struggle every year with finding the “perfect” planner, to the point we try to cobble together some sort of Franken-planner on our own.  We’ve actually discussed starting our own company to remedy this problem.
Actually, for people who can afford to wait, mid-January is a great time to get planners and calendars on deep discount — so let’s talk about it. Readers, what is your favorite planner/calendar system?  (Pictured: Super cute custom day planners by Erin Condren, available at Tiny Prints (get 20% off any order + f/s when you spend $99, offer ends 1/10).) [Read more...]
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Drawer Drugstore: Toiletries to Keep In The Office

10/31/2011 By 67 Comments

junk drawer #1, my middle desk drawer, originally uploaded to Flickr by zeelicious.What toiletries do you keep in your desk drawer?  We’ve talked about the clothes you keep in the office, the food you nibble on during the workday, and the tech stuff you have to have for the office — but what about toiletries?  I have such an established list that, when my brother started his new job, I gave him a little bag filled with these items — they’re helpful for everyone!  (Pictured: junk drawer #1, my middle desk drawer, originally uploaded to Flickr by zeelicious.)

1. New-Skin. Yes, it’s an electronic world, but there are still far more papers to deal with than you’d think — which means papercuts abound — which means every open wound increases your chances of getting sick. My preferred method for dealing with papercuts is to apply a liquid bandage like New-Skin. It dries quickly, stays on all day (even after you’ve washed your hands), and it doesn’t leave that gummy residue on your nails and fingers. [Read more...]

Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , Filed Under: Comfort, Office Supplies, Organization, Work-Related Pain

Tech Fun: Slightly Geeky Things to Keep at the Office

10/24/2011 By 88 Comments

Not only do I consider myself a bit of a tech geek, but I specialize in a weird subset of tech geekiness: tech for the office.  These are my top techy things to keep at the office — readers, what do you keep?  (Check out our prior discussions on clothes to keep at the office, as well as food to keep at the office.)

Gadgets


1. Refrigerator — This was one of my all-time favorite tech purchases for my office (and it lasted forever).  I bought a super, super small fridge for my office — so small it could barely fit a six-pack of Coke.  I kept water and soda chilled, as well as cheese sticks, lemon juice, cheese, salad dressing — even leftover food.  You can find them for around $50 (look up “mini refrigerator,” “portable refrigerator,” “travel refrigerator”) and up. [Read more...]

Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Filed Under: Office Supplies, Organization, Tech, Tool of the Trade