2013 January

Packing Jewelry For Travel

January 31, 2013 by OrganizedJen 14 Comments

As a jewelry lover and collector, I like to travel with a selection of pieces to coordinate with my wardrobe on any given trip. I’ve always preferred to travel with my most valuable items (in terms of both monetary and personal worth) with me in my carry-on bag as opposed to packing such things in my checked luggage. I’m always on the lookout for packing tools to aid in space saving efficiency since I already carry quite a bit on the plane with me with all of the camera and computer equipment I have (see The Anatomy of My Carry-On Bag for a more in-depth look). The travel jewelry roll I found at The Container Store during their annual travel sale this past summer fits the bill perfectly!

Source: Hanging Jewelry Roll from The Container Store

Hanging Jewelry Roll from The Container Store (photo source)

The Hanging Jewelry Roll (which is on sale right now marked down from $14.99 to $9.99!) can hold a nice selection of jewelry. I like how it folds flat as opposed to rolling, which works well for my vertical packing method. The blue background makes it easy to see the contents inside. I tend to use the three smaller compartments at the top for earrings, the next compartment down for necklaces, and the lowest two for bracelets and watches.

Source: Tite-Lip Anti-Tarnish Bag 3x2" from Fire Mountain Gems

Tite-Lip Anti-Tarnish Bag 3″x2″ from Fire Mountain Gems (photo source)

I use 3″x2″ and 3″x3″ anti-tarnish zip-top Tite-Lip bags from Fire Mountain Gems to store all of my jewelry at home. When traveling I just pop these bags already containing the pieces I’ve picked out into the jewelry roll. Not only do these bags aid in keeping my jewelry polished, they are a great way to avoid the inevitable jewelry tangles when pieces are stored together. The bags are clear so it is easy to see through them and identify the pieces inside even when zipped securely into the jewelry roll.

Source: Itso Narrow Fabric Tray from Target

Itso Narrow Fabric Tray from Target (photo source)

I recently discovered an effective method of organizing my jewelry for packing using a three-compartment tray by Itso, which I purchased from Target. I have jewelry in three main metal shades: silver, gold, and rose gold. When prepping to pack, I will sit at my vanity where I store my jewelry at home with this tray and pull all of the possible pieces I might want for my trip. I separate the jewelry into the tray by shade. I can then bring the tray over to wherever I’ve laid out my clothing to pack and narrow down my jewelry choices with ease while coordinating with my trip wardrobe.

This is a simple but effective way of picking out and packing jewelry for trips that saves me both time in the packing process and space in my carry-on bag.

*I am not affiliated with any of the brands mentioned. All opinions are my own. Photos are linked to the original sources.*

Filed Under: Organized Like Jen, Travel Tagged With: jewelry organization, jewelry storage, organized traveler, packing jewelry, packing organization

The Anatomy of My Carry-On Bag

January 27, 2013 by OrganizedJen 49 Comments

If you’ve ever visited my channel OrganizedLikeJen (OLJ) on YouTube, then you know that not only do I have a great love for organization, but an even greater respect for the art of packing. I love to pack. It is something I do often, as my husband and I travel quite a bit. It is something I do well. I don’t consider myself much of an expert on anything. That is, anything except for packing. I am a gosh darn good packer, if I do say so myself (loud and proud!). This doesn’t mean that I am a minimilist packer. On the contrary, many would say I tend to overpack. I would have to disagree. Packing is a very individual thing and what one needs during travel is not a one-size-fits-all sort of deal. I tend to bring exactly what I need and a little bit extra as a better-safe-than-sorry type of gal. On any given trip I use between 90-100% of the items I bring with me. To me that signifies a well-thought out packing job. With that being said, please take in mind whenever watching my packing-related videos or reading my packing-related blog posts, that I show what works for me. You might not feel the need to travel with three different kinds of cameras, emergency clothing, or journals in your carry-on bag, but I do. To each their own.

17″ Roll Along Tote in Mocha Rouge by Vera Bradley

I am always recieving requests to post updated ‘What’s In My Carry-On” videos on OLJ. Since I have now posted SIX carry-on videos (links to all below if you’re interested) since I first started my organization channel, I decided maybe a blog post update would be a better idea. This also makes sense because I am using the same bag from the last two carry-on videos with only minor adjustments. That bag is the 17″ Roll Along Tote in Mocha R ouge by Vera Bradley (pictured above). It was a birthday gift from exactly one year ago and I have been in love with it ever since.

I love the cheery Mocha Rouge pattern. It’s easy to spot, but not overly bright.

The snapping handles are perfect for corralling extra layers when on the go.

I keep my Lug Life Undercover Bear travel pillow & a small reusable shopping bag (in case I purchase snacks) in the generously spacious front slip pocket.

The bag has two main zippered compartments, one shallow and one deep, both of which open up flat.

The more shallow of the two has a special built in “Checkpoint Friendly” laptop case. When I go through security I can just zip open this top compartment & lay it flat (as show in the previous picture), leaving my laptop safely inside while it travels through the X-ray machine. I love not having to remove my laptop from the security of this padded pouch! I do still keep a protective hardshell case on my laptop at all times. I am currently using a Kuzy Rubberized Hard Case Cover in a beautiful Tiffany blue color.

There are several pockets on the other side of this compartment that I use to stash magazines, pens, a Starbucks giftcard, and personal hygiene essentiels (filed under the better-safe-than-sorry category) for quick & easy access.

There is a large zip pocket behind these slip pockets that is perfect for keeping the folder with all of my travel documents safe as well as other flat items.

The other main compartment of the bag is much deeper and can hold quite a bit.

The flat side has two zippered compartments. The top mesh one is usually where I keep my vlogging camera (a Canon Powershot Elph 300 HS) in its 1154 Lill Studio Kari case as well as mints, gum, & a small snack (Luna bars are my favorite on the go).

I usually stash my personal journal (safe inside its Jonathan Adler case), the lock that came with the bag, and extra ziplock bags in the lower zippered compartment.

I like packing the deepest portion of the bag vertically so I can easily pull out whatever I need without having to dig around too much.

I use a variety of cases & pouches to keep similar items together, which also makes it much easier to find whatever I may need quickly. I usually pack a book or my kindle in this compartment as well.

I always travel with a Vera Bradley Ditty Bag (shown here in the matching Mocha Rouge pattern), which is a lightweight pouch lined in plastic. I keep a set of leggings or mesh shorts as well as an extra pair of underwear in this in case of emergency during travel or for unexpected delays or cancellations. I always travel with my Bose Quiet Comfort 15 Acoustic Noise Canceling Headphones in a velvet pouch, a trail mix snack, and fuzzy socks in the case of a chilly airplane.

I use several different kinds of pouches to house all of my cameras and cords. I keep my Sony Handycam HDR-150CX, charger & USB cord in a small SORT Electronics Case. I keep my Canon EOS Rebel T4i DSLR camera in a Crumpler Hav en (size medium). I just posted my first impressions on this case (see blog post DSLR Camera Accessories Haul).

I keep all of my computer cords & accessories in an Eagle Creek Pack-It Quarter Cube, including the power cords, mouse, an external hard drive, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter, & a Smart Charger (for emergency iPhone battery replenishment).

I keep my iPhone charger, my two other camera chargers & extra batteries in an Eagle Creek Small PackIt Sac.

I prefer packing my jewelry in my carry-on bag as opposed to in my checked luggage. I’ve been using this Hanging Jewelry Roll for the past 6 months for travel and absolutely love it! Check for a new video soon on OLJ on how I pack my jewelry for travel.

I am a big fan of the “Walking Pharmacy,” as I like to call it, which is a case in which I store all of my daily necessities & small emergency items. I filmed an entire video on what I keep in my travel walking pharmacy if you’d like a more in-depth look.

I have been enjoying using my Louis Vuitton Insolite wallet for travel, because I can fit my phone in the large zippered compartment. I’ve attached an 1154 Lill Studio Jane Wristlet to it so I can easily manage the wallet when I need my ID for checkin & security. It’s also nice when traveling with Don to leave my bag with him at the gate while I make a dash for a water bottle or to use the restroom before the flight.

Lately I have been traveling with what I call my “Creative Necessities Pouch” (CNP). I love to make lists, plans things out on paper, and doodle/daydream with colorful pens & stickers. I keep a small pad of paper, a Moleskine Cahier Journal, sticky notes & tabs in a variety of colors & sizes, a multi-color jumbo pen, whiteout tape, magnetic paper clips, & a variety of stickers in my CNP. I’ve taken to carrying this in my larger size purses when I know I am going to have some downtime during any particular outing. It has become a wonderful addition to my travel carry-on bag as well.

As you can see, I use every nook & cranny of my Roll Along Tote. I love that I can easily fit all of my electronics valuables, and personal odds & ends in it. The fact that the bag can fit under the seat in front of me on the airplane is the icing on the cake! I appreciate having my bag & its contents right at my feet for easy access. It’s on sale right now at VeraBradley.com for a much reduced price, which leads me to believe that they might be discontinuing this model. I hope that means they will replace it with a newer model if nothing else, because it truly is the perfect carry-on in my opinion and I think that many others would agree.

If you’d like to see my carry-on videos from over the past few years, I am listing & linking them below:

❊ Summer Travel: Carry-On Essentiels (July 10, 2012)

❊ What’s In My NEW Carry-On & How To Pack for an Out of Town Race (February 24, 2012)

❊ Yet Another Carry-On Bag Video (September 5, 2011)

❊ Packing Organization: Carry-On (May 17, 2011)

❊ What’s In My Carry-On, Part 2 (November 17, 2010)

❊ What’s In My Carry-On, Part 1 (November 17, 2010)

*I am not affiliated with any of the brands mentioned in this post. All opinions are my own.*

Filed Under: Organized Like Jen, Travel Tagged With: carry-on, packing, packing organization, travel

DSLR Camera Accessories Haul

January 25, 2013 by OrganizedJen 10 Comments

My big Christmas gift from Don this year was a Canon Rebel T4i, a DSLR camera (he gave me the 18-135mm IS STM lens kit). I had been coveting this beauty since its release in the spring of 2012 and thought it would be a nice camera to learn on. It is no coincidence that the gift of this camera coincided with the launch of this blog. I hope to pursue the art of manual photography for blogging in the future. For the time being I am just enjoying the auto features while I get used to the feel of the camera and play with things like lighting, angles and color contrast. Don also gave me a special pancake lens that Canon had introduced with the T4i, the EF 40mm f/2.8 STM. STM stands for STepping Motor and refers to the focusing mechanism of the lens, which in this case is specially deisgned to reduce auditory autofocus noise when in film mode. I decided to purchase an additional lens and some basic accessories through Amazon a couple of weeks ago to add to my new camera.

First thing on my shopping list was to buy a lens I have been hearing about in the YouTube community for some time now, the Tamaron AF 17-50mm XR Di-II f/2.8 LD SP Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens for Canon DSLR cameras. So many of the beauty gurus I love to watch who film on Canon Rebel cameras use this specific lens. After reading myriad positive reviews on the internet about its merits for not just filming, but all-around shooting, I decided to splurge on it. Lenses do not come cheap and purchasing one is a serious investment! I have been playing with it for about a week now and already love it. I’m excited to attempt filming on it as well.

As a YouTuber, I am well informed on the importance of having a backup battery and charger for your cameras. I have an extra set for the camera I use to vlog on, a Canon Powershot Elph 300 HS, as well as my video camera, a Sony Handycam HDR-CX150. Having the extra batteries is crucial for long filming shoots or when I’m out all day vlogging on the go, not to mention absolutely essentiel when traveling. I think having a backup battery and charger is worth the extra money. The ones I already own have come to my rescue countless times over the course of my YouTube career.

Lastly, I knew I needed a proper bag to house my new camera and keep it safe while at home and on the go. At first I thought I should have a camera bag, and I spent a lot of time researching the many options available. I reached out on FB and Twitter to get your input and received so many wonderful recommendations (big thanks to all who contributed!). Camera bags come in all shapes and sizes with all sorts of bell and whistles you can customize to suit your needs. I started to feel overwhelmed by all of the options until I followed a viewer suggestion to look into Crumpler products. These camera pouches offer the padding and security of a camera bag without being an actual bag. This appealed to me immediately since I am quite new the the world of DSLR cameras and am not sure what my camera bag needs are as yet. I figured having a Crumpler pouch would be a good start, since I can easily fit it into my carryon bag and larger purses.

I decided to go with the Haven in the medium size, described on the Crumpler website as “a portable padded protector for all things photographic, it instantly turns any bag into a camera bag – and back again – with pick up, plonk down ease.” It comfortably holds my camera, two lenses (one big, one small), the charger, an extra battery, SD cards, and cords. I like that the tough exterior fabric is water resistant, while the inside is lined in a soft fuzzy fleece. It has just enough padding to cushion its contents well, while avoiding excess bulkiness & weight. It also comes equipped with two removable velcro dividers, allowing you to customize the interior organization. I traveled with my new Haven this past week when I was in LA & Disneyland. It easily fit into my Vera Bradley 17″ Roll-Along Tote carryon for air travel as well as my Longchamp ‘Le Pliage’ Large Tote for daytime excursions. The Haven suits my current needs perfectly!

I am very pleased with my new camera and the first accessories I chose to purchase for it. I’m always interested in your input about “all things photographic” so please feel free to share your thoughts with me.

*I am not affiliated with any of the brands mentioned. All items mentioned were purchased by me with the exception of the camera and 40mm lens, which were gifts from my husband. All opinions are my own.*

Filed Under: Hauls, The Busy Bee Buzz Tagged With: camera accessories, camera haul, canon t4i, DSLR, haul

Holiday Decorations: Packing & Storage

January 17, 2013 by OrganizedJen 13 Comments

I recently posted a video on OLJ featuring how I pack up and store our holiday decorations. I use holiday-themed storage bins by Sterlite that Target has in some variation every year. I’ve had mine for over 5 years now and they’ve held up extremely well. Sterilite makes the same size bins for their regular collection that’s available year-round. I purchased the more shallow ones with the purple handles (32 quart Latching Box) for my Christmas collectibles last year well after Christmas.

I took some photos with my new camera during the process to share here with you.

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Bins are out & ready to begin!

Gathering items for easy packing

Winnie's toys ready for storage

Using original packaging for fragile collectibles like snowglobes

Family room decorations all packed up

Using larger bins for lightweight bulky items like pillows

Arranged baskets get a lot of space in bins to avoid crushing

Using more shallow bins for delicate collectible mugs & plates

The kitchen table is a great place to wrap fragile items

Well packed without being squished

My favorites ornament bins from Frontgate

Three large trays hold all ornament shapes & sizes

Storing like ornaments together to maximize space

Even cute critters get snuggled close together!

Customizable trays makes storing different size ornaments a breeze

Using archival shredded paper to further protect fragile ornaments

First batch of packed bins ready to be taken downstairs

Second batch ready for storage

A wall of Christmas decoration in the basement storage room

Decorations are packed & stored! Ready for next year!

Filed Under: Holidays, Organized Like Jen Tagged With: christmas decoration storage, decoration storage, holiday decorations, holiday decorations storage, organization, sterilite, storage organization

Working Out & Around Injury

January 13, 2013 by OrganizedJen 29 Comments

Tone It Up DVD image from here & Daily Yoga DVD image from here

I am frequently asked what some of my favorite non-running workouts are that I do at home. I thought I’d share two that I’ve been alternating between every day for this past week since I’ve been home from Utah and haven’t been able to run (see my Boo-Boos Are Bad News post for more about that if you missed it). I basically can’t wear any shoe that isn’t lined in sherpa or extreme fuzziness due to an injury, so going to my favorite dance cardio classes, Zumba & WERQ, are out of the question. I also can’t do any cross-training on the elliptical or DVDS that require the support & stability of a shoe. Swimming is also a no-go, since I have an open wound and swimming in a public pool would be a bad idea. This basically rules everything out except for low or no impact exercise that I can do in my bare feet at home. That’s where these DVDs come to the rescue!

I have been a Tone It Up member and HUGE fan since the spring of 2010. Not only do the two lovely founders, Karena & Katrina, inspire & motivate with their draw-dropping bodies, but their upbeat & optimistic attitudes always leave me feeling energized & happy. I used the Tone It Up Nutrition Plan with great success in 2010 after a long struggle trying to find the right balance in nutrition to help with my IBS diagnosis. I find that their workouts are fun, quick, and easy to follow, but really kick your butt! I purchased the Beach Babe DVD as soon as it was released in the spring of 2012. This two-disc set contains seven workouts in total, all of which are based on a circuit training model. The first disc has three total-body high-energy workouts ranging from 20 to 40 minutes long. These workouts I prefer to do with shoes on for support. The second disc has three targeted area strength training workouts and one stretching routine ranging from 10 to 15 minutes long. This second disc is perfect for someone like me who cannot wear shoes right now, as they are low-impact and do not necessarily require the stability a shoe would provide. Lately, my favorite 30 minute strength training session is to couple the Summer Arms with the Bikini Abs routine. These are great areas to focus on pre-race without stressing out my legs too much just a week before the Tinker Bell Half Marathon. They’re challenging enough for me to work up a little sweat and get a nice heat going, but not so challenging that I’m overworking my body before the race.

On alternate days I’ve been turning to my all-time favorite at home yoga DVD practice, Jane Fonda’s Workout: Daily Yoga with Tara Stiles. This is a well-rounded 60 minute practice suitable for everyone from beginners with some knowledge of basic yoga postures to advanced practitioners who are looking for a nice, low-key flow that will get your blood moving without overdoing it. I love Tara’s yoga style, which is very open, easy to follow, and fluid. She covers all of the main muscles with an emphasis on twisting and low impact strength building. What she says in the DVD describes this style in a nutshell – It won’t “stress out your body or your brain” while still getting a nice practice in. I always finish feeling refreshed and revitalized. I could follow this DVD every day and not get bored of it. I hope that Tara Stiles releases more DVDs in the future to add to this wonderful practice.

I’m going into this race feeling strong despite having to stay out of shoes for the two weeks leading up to it, which I think really attests to the quality of these DVDs and the ladies behind them. Thank goodness for at home barefoot exercise!

*I am not affiliated with any of the brands or companies mentioned in this post, just a big fan of these awesome women! This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.*

Filed Under: Fitness, The Busy Bee Buzz Tagged With: beach babe dvd, daily yoga, exercise, exercise dvds, fitness, tara stiles, tone it up, work out, working out, yoga, yoga dvd

Boo-Boos Are Bad News

January 9, 2013 by OrganizedJen 68 Comments

As many of you know, I have been training for two half marathons coming up very, very soon for the past 6 months. The first is just over a week away! I’m flying to LA next week to participate in the Disyneyland Tinker Bell Half Marathon. At the end of February Don & I will be heading back to Orlando for my second time running in the Disney Princess Half Marathon. I decided to commit to these races just 5 weeks apart in celebration of my upcoming 30th birthday (January 28). Aside from being super excited, I am a wee bit nervous mainly due to the fact that I haven’t been able to put in the training I was hoping for these past couple of weeks. Don’t get me wrong, I planned for this back-t0-back race deal well in advance and am working off of a great running base and months of dedicated training. It’s just that I’m at the end of the training period now and it’s hard to have to slow down before I feel ready.

It all started out when my shins started getting really tender in mid-December. This was at about the same point in my training last year for the Disney Princess Half Marathon at Disney World when I experienced a similar problem and had to majorly slow down. I ended up being able to run the race, albeit a bit slower than I had expected, but was pleased to have avoided injury (a plight I am all too familiar with in my running history, particularly concerning my shins). I figured since I was running mini-marathons around my house for the holiday season between decorating, cookie baking and hostessing duties, that a little time off wouldn’t hurt and that I would pick up my training for the last big push while we were in Utah at the family abode on vacation over the holidays. Training in Utah is great, because our house there is at an altitude of just about 6,000 feet and there is a slight incline, giving me a push in the cardiovascular sense. This means I can run less mileage there yet work even harder while doing so. Sounds perfect for someone at the end of training while babying some tender shins, right?

Of course, as with most things in life, it didn’t quite work out as I had intended. I was feeling strong and ready to take on my last bit of training. On my first morning in Utah I set out for a quick and easy run to get adjusted to the altitude. There had been some snowfall the night before and I was up before the plows came through. I had packed my Salamon Women’s XA Pro 3D Ultra 2 GTX Trail Running Shoes (purchased in the fall of 2011), which I more generally refer to as my “snow running shoes,” because they’re made out of Gore-Tex (as in waterproof & warm) with huge treads for gripping purposes (as in not sliding about out there on slippery roads). I’ve only worn them a handful of times thanks to seasonably warm & unsnowy weather lately. I was delighted with how well they worked for me on my first snowy run in Utah. I decided to wear them the next morning as well even though the roads were much clearer. That was my big mistake. I know I should always wear my ever reliable Asics GT-2170‘s whenever possible as both my feet and legs prefer them. The Salalmon’s are just for wintery conditions.

Long story short, I ended up shredding a small patch on my right foot during that second run. It seemed just like a small surface wound, nothing much to worry about. I took a day off and then embarked on what I hoped would be an 8-miler, slapping a bandaid over my boo-boo and not giving it a second thought. I cruised through the first 4 miles before it started to sting, then burn, then throb. By mile 6 I could barely carry on. I literally dragged myself through to mile 7 then coasted home for a last half mile on pure adrenaline (thinking all the way, “Must Get Home Now!”). As soon as I took off my shoe I knew I was in trouble. A bloody sock is never a good sign, but especially to a runner just a few short weeks before a big race. Turns out my “surface wound” was a bigger deal than I originally thought, being located on a bony protrusion of my foot that cannot help but rub against any shoe or even soft fuzzy slipper I wear. I had shredded through several more layers of skin now and there was no denying that I had a genuine hole in my foot.

I took 4 days off running and nurtured my poor foot as best I could with lots of Neosporin, bandages, and time away from footwear. After 4 days I decided to give it another go and set out for a quick and easy 3 mile loop around the block, confident that 4 days was absolutely enough time for a wound just one square centimeter in size to heal. Wrong again. Did more damage. Silly, stubborn me! That was about a week ago now and this boo-boo is still not getting in any running shoes. I wake up every morning hoping that today’s the day I can sneak in a few more training runs and (*fingers crossed*) one last big one only to find that just wearing socks still makes me cringe.

I realize this is a long, dramatic story about a very small thing, but it carries a significant lesson to me. Sometimes even the smallest boo-boos are the biggest inhibitors. It is important to pay very close attention to your body. It will tell you things about your wellbeing, both physical and emotional, that you might not be able to access any other way. I was pushing myself past my physical limits, risking further injury and jeopardizing my ability to compete in an important event altogether, and for what? To squeeze in a few more miles? These races have never been about my times or my ability to do well. They’re about rising to a challenge and learning how to succeed through patience, understanding, and compassion for myself. I can be all those things for others, so why is it so hard to be them for me? I know I am not alone in experiencing this. It’s something I constantly have to work on and one of the main reasons why taking on this back-to-back birthday running plan was so appealing to me. In order to succeed, all I have to do is make it to these races and be able to compete. There’s no need to break any records. If I can run in both of these races it means I am healthy enough emotionally to take care of myself physically.

It may be a two steps forward and one step back kind of approach, but I’m doing it. I’m making it. If I don’t get in these last few training runs it’s not the end of the world. So long as I am crossing that finish line next Sunday, I will have won. And I know I will cross that finish line.

Being 30 is going to rock!

Filed Under: My Housewife Life Tagged With: 30th birthday, disney princess half marathon, half-marathons, injury, myhousewifelife, races, running, tinker bell half marathon

The Current Custom/Exit Art Haul

January 7, 2013 by OrganizedJen 49 Comments

TBBB The Current Custom/Exit Art Haul 1/7/2013

I have purchased several pieces of jewelry from The Current Custom (an online branch of Exit Art, a store that sells specialty jewelry, art, & household goods) over the past few years, including my favorite gold & rose gold Cuff Bracelets and cutie patootie Sydney Evan Owl Necklace. I like the jewelry that The Current Custom sells, which includes high quality, beautiful pieces with everyday functionality.

I placed an order the day before Cyber Monday (November 25, 2012) to take advantage of a 20% off coupon code for the Labradorite on Gold Link Chain necklace and Sterling Silver Cuff Bracelet set. I’d been eyeing these pieces for awhile and waited for a good sale to invest in them. Since I’ve ordered from The Current Custom in the past I knew it would be some time before I received my order. A few weeks went by with no sign of my package or word from the store. I emailed to inquire about my order’s status and received a brief email back from Exit Art owner Debbie that they were “putting orders together and [my] package will go out soon.” I was assured that an email would be sent once my package shipped. That was on December 10, 2012. Two weeks later as we were gearing up to leave for Utah I still had not received my order or a status update. I finally got my package today (January 7, 2013) with a postmark of January 3rd. It took exactly 6 weeks for my order to get to me.

Now, I am generally not one to fuss, but 6 weeks with virtually no communication on the store’s part as to my order status or expected delivery time does not seem like good business to me. I would have never heard from the store if I hadn’t sent an email to them first. They did not send another email once my order shipped contrary to what was told to me. Had they given me some notice that the pieces I ordered would take some time to get to me that would have been more than acceptable. I understand that sometimes jewelry pieces must be ordered from the supplier and can be patient if given some notice. It’s not as if I ordered these items for a time sensitive gift. Consider if I had purchased some items as Christmas gifts. One would think that one month is enough time to order and receive something for the holidays.

I don’t mean to rant, because I really do like The Current Custom and would like to support this business. I admire the jewelry offered on the site and will probably make future purchases from there. I will certainly enjoy my new jewelry pieces as stunning additions to my collection. Just be warned that it could take a very long time to recieve an order with very little communication on the store’s part.

*All items shown were purchased by me. I am not affiliated with The Current Custom or Exit Art.*

Filed Under: Hauls, The Busy Bee Buzz Tagged With: exit art, haul, jewelry, jewelry haul, the current custom

Organizing A Blog

January 3, 2013 by OrganizedJen 90 Comments

Three days into being an official *blogger* and this is what I know so far:

❊ Blogging is fun!
❊ Comments from you guys are awesome!
❊ I am absolutely in love with my blog design & layout.
❊ I am such a newbie! Everything takes a LONG time since I am learning.
❊ Blog organization is tricky…

It took me a very, very long time (better part of the year to be honest) to decide how to go about organizing this blog. Having three YouTube channels featuring different types of content & subjects posed quite the dilemma at first. I had to decide whether I was going to have one blog or three separate ones (which could possibly all funnel into a main website), and accordingly, one domain name or four separate ones. This was a toughie. As much as the categorizer in me loves the idea of the multi-blog main website, ultimately I decided it wasn’t realistic for me to take on such a huge blogging endeavor like that on top of my YouTube filming & editing to-dos. Having one blog where I can post pretty much anything I want and just file it under one of my three YouTube channels as categories was the simplest option.

Used by permission of Mary Engelbreit Studios, Inc. © Mary Engelbreit Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved http:///www.maryengelbreit.com

That I actually chose the least complicated path comes as a delightful surprise to me. I usually chose the more challenging way when it comes to pretty much anything. When I was younger I believed I acted this way in order to prove myself to others as someone who could aim high and accomplish lofty goals. This belief started to shift in the latter half of my college education when I realized what I really desired was the challenge itself and to push myself just because I could. I worked my tail off in school to achieve the highest marks possible. Since then, my desire to learn and be the best version of myself has been the driving force for all that I do in my life.

This can be a bit of a double-edged sword, however, since it is very easy for me to over-commit myself and my time. In the past few years in particular I have worked on making boundaries for the purpose of allowing myself some breathing room. I cannot be idle. I am always on the move (quite literally!) with multiple projects going at any one time. I am fiercely stubborn when it comes to finishing what I started. Couple that with a tendency to chose the more complicated version of accomplishing something and the possibility of burnout looms perilously close by. As much as I am excited & inspired by my new career as an Original Content Creator (and all that it entails), I must be very careful not to take on more than I can feasibly handle. I will always take on a lot as it is in my nature to do so. I’m in my comfort zone when I am functioning at full capacity. The choices I made for organizing this blog symbolize growth on my part. Yes, I am taking on another endeavor, one that will require much time & energy, and is a true commitment in those senses, but I chose the simplest path. The blog (and my efforts for it) are organized, but not micro-categorized. That, my friends, is real growth.

It is a joy to walk down this path and enjoy it with you all. Let’s grow together

* I am not affiliated with Mary Engelbreit, just a great admirer of her artwork. I was given express permission by the Mary Engelbreit company to use this image, which is protected under copyright law. Visit www.maryengelbreit.com to peruse more artwork and products. *

Filed Under: Organized Like Jen

Contemplating the New Year…

January 1, 2013 by OrganizedJen 93 Comments

It’s very exciting to be writing a blog post! I thought I would take some time to share my thoughts & feelings with you today.

I have been reflecting upon the last year and contemplating the next one quite a bit these past few days. I think that’s a pretty common occurrence around the new year marker for many people. I actually sat down and watched the two videos I posted last year, one about my 2012 New Years Resolutions on OLJ, and the other, my New Years Vlog 2012: Reflections & Resolutions on MHWL. At first I thought, “Wow, that was only a year ago?” which very quickly turned into, “Wow, that was a WHOLE year ago?!” Time is funny, isn’t it? In a year’s time I have managed to grow in so many ways as an individual while somehow staying the same “me.”

I don’t often watch my own videos after I finish my final edits on them. It’s a bit of a weird experience to sit there and watch yourself just because you can. I really wanted to see where I was at this point last year, though, which is why I decided to watch those videos. I had grown so much in 2011 in so many ways, all mainly correlating with my YouTube and associated social media growth, and I wanted to remember how it felt this time last year. I can again note a marked growth spurt with this new year and new chapter and am excited about the implications. It can be hard to notice changes on a day-to-day basis, which is why I depend on this annual tradition of reflection to really take some time to appreciate the past year & my experience of it. So, what’s the verdict?

2012 was a very good year. A very, VERY good year! Some highlights that stand out include participating in & completing my first half marathon, becoming confident enough to vlog and turning MHWL into a vlog-centered channel, finally organizing the storage/utility room in our house, and getting this blog up & running. There are, of course, other, more personal, emotional hurdles I overcame as well. My self-confidence has improved markedly, I’ve finally got a handle on my IBS, and I’m learning how to manage my anxiety better. I feel strong, both physically and emotionally, and I’ve really come into my own as a woman these past few years.

One of my most special accomplishments is turning what started out as a side project hobby into an actual career. It is no secret that my efforts on YouTube have started to pay off, quite literally, as I earn a commision from ad sales that YouTube places on or next to my videos. [Side note - Anyone can do this! Once you have a YouTube account & start posting videos, you can opt to "monetize" your videos. You have to set up a Google Adsense account in order to be paid revenue. It's as simple as that!] I am officially providing my own personal spending budget now and hope to take on more financial responsibilities for our family in the future. It’s kind of a neat feeling to get paid to do something you love.

I treasure being a housewife, of course, and will always consider myself to be one, but I am now also officially a career woman. It is a funny world we live in where titles and labels carry so much meaning. It’s hard not to get swept away in that way of thinking. I’ve personally always felt that so long as I feel good about what I do on any given day then that’s all I should need in terms of validation. It’s an easy thing to say, more difficult to believe, and even harder still to actually put into practice. Feeling validated from the inside is a beautiful thing and does not come naturally to me, as I imagine might be the same for many others as well. It is a practice I’ve had to work very hard on and continue to work at, but ultimately I have come to realize that the only person who can truly bring me happiness is myself.

Coming into my own, especially this past year, has helped tremendously in that department. I can’t thank you, my wonderful viewers (and now readers!) enough for your support, encouragement, & enthusiasm. I can’t wait to continue to share with you all in 2013. I’m cooking up my New Years resolutions & reflections videos, hopefully coming up this week on OLJ & MHWL. Stay tuned!

I wish you and yours a very happy & healthy new year!

Filed Under: My Housewife Life Tagged With: contemplating, housewife confessional, new years, reflections

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Contemplating the New Year…

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