You are here: Home / Archives for Bare Essentials

Bare Essentials: Keeping You Powerful, Organized and Warm

February 13, 2012 By 12 Comments

 

supply organizer iPad holderBag in a bag

Contrary to what some people think, bigger isn’t always better. Take your briefcase or purse for example. A bigger bag means you can carry more stuff, which means you’ll spend more time digging around for what you need. Before you dump your big bag for good, try one more option: the Slim Bag-in-Bag. This padded fabric holder with 13 pockets and a zippered top makes it easy to separate your supplies and extra stuff into different compartments. It’s lightweight and hand washable.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Bare Essentials Tagged With: , ,

Bare Essentials: Sights and Sounds

October 13, 2011 By 4 Comments

Get a grip

My exterminator would cringe if he knew I was promoting spiders, but he’ll have to get a grip…actually a grip similar to the one the SpiderpodiumTablet® has on iPads and other Tablet PC’s. Sure, it’s creepy with its 8 legs that bend at all angles, but I always say that function (it can hold your tablet in place or let you view it at any angle) trumps beauty. The Spiderpodium Tablet, made from Advanced Tech “SoftTouch Rubber,” is available in black and graphite.

 

Put on the hog

Working from home can be lonely. Take a break from the silence with the iHog. This hog-shaped iPod/iPhone docking station has 4 speakers that deliver 360 degrees of sound…they’re loud!

Whether you choose the iHog in pink, white or black, consider sharing the iHog with your family. You don’t want them to think you’re a pig.

 

 

 

A functional skyline

Your home office may not overlook a city skyline, but you can get the next best thing with the Skyline Desk Organizer. This laser-cut wood holder has two spaces for mail or letters, and a space for pens and pencils.

This is one of the more interesting and creative supply organizers I’ve ever seen. Its neutral color will match any home office and its narrow design will leave you with plenty of desktop space to work.

 

Filed Under: Bare Essentials, Home office products Tagged With: , ,

Bare Essentials: Up Against the Wall

August 29, 2011 By 4 Comments

If walls could talk

I’m a huge fan of chalkboard paint and how it can transform a simple home office wall into a ready-to-use chalkboard. IdeaPaint™ does the same thing, but instead of converting a wall into a chalkboard, it turns it into a multi-purpose dry-erase board.

The best part of this product is that instead of hanging a heavy or even ugly dry-erase board on the wall, you can transform any wall in your home office into a functional message center, idea catcher or project organizer. The IdeaPaint™HOME kit covers up to 20 sq. ft. If you want to cover more space and choose from colors other than white, there’s the CRE-8 kit (get it…create?). This kit covers up to 50 sq. ft. and comes in 9 colors.

A room divided


Separating your home life from your business life isn’t easy. It’s even harder when your home office and living space are in the same room.

That’s where Loft Wall comes in. These decorative, freestanding room dividers let you physically separate your home office from the rest of your home. One of the best features of the Loft Wall is that aside from adding a bit of color and design to your home office, you can design your own wall.

 

Filed Under: Bare Essentials Tagged With: , , ,

Bare Essentials: Add a Touch of Color

July 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

File and fold

You may work in your home office day after day, but some days it’s better to mix it up and work somewhere else. When you need to take files with you, the Bungalow file tote can handle the job. It’s sturdy enough to hold plenty of letter-size hanging folders, yet folds up for easy storage. It also works well for storing files in your home office, but something this stylish deserves to be taken out once in a while.

Stick with it

One of the (many) things I don’t miss about my corporate days in a stuffy office is my old, grey desk accessories. I’ve done my best to make sure that my home office doesn’t resemble anything close to my old corporate office. Instead of bland accessories, I have colorful and functional ones. The Poppin tape dispenser definitely fits into that category with its selection of eight colors.

Stick ‘em up

There’s no doubt that a valuable photo or piece of art is worth framing. But when you have inexpensive art that you may change out soon anyway, why bother with frames? The Re-stickable Decal Photo Frame makes framing simple, and hanging even easier. The best part is that you can move the frames from room to room without putting any holes in your walls. Each pack comes with eight frames that stick to your walls or windows and won’t damage walls or paint.

 

Filed Under: Bare Essentials, Home office design, Home office products Tagged With: ,

Bare Essentials: Three Hot Holders

May 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

It’s in the bag

Finding a bag that can double as a home office isn’t easy. Believe me, I’ve been looking for that type of bag for over a year. The allrounder does the job perfectly. It’s large enough to hold a desktop file holder inside, along with supplies and a laptop. It will even fit under the seat in front of you when you fly. The best part is that this bag comes in different, stylish designs that have anything but a stuffy, corporate look.

A case for opening a cold one

Your cell phone case may protect your phone but can it open a bottle or can? The “Be A HeadCase™“ case has a built-in, stainless steel bottle/can-tab opener on the back of a hard-shell plastic case. This “why didn’t I think of that” case for your iPhone 4/Verizon iPhone 4 or iPhone 3G/3Gs includes a bottom cover slot that makes it easy to charge your phone without taking it out of the case. It also comes with a free app that plays your favorite song or sound and displays a photo when you open a bottle or can.

Spink before you drink

Maybe I still have my dead computer on my mind, but this cup holder, named the Spink, could have kept my glass right next to my computer instead of letting it go bottoms up on my keyboard. The lever-powered suction cup on the bottom of the Spink will keep your mug, water bottle or glass in one place and more importantly, your computer safe.

Filed Under: Bare Essentials, Home office products Tagged With: , , ,

Bare Essentials: Hot Home Office Products

April 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Too good to use
Have you ever had a dessert that looks too good to eat? This gorgeous wooden desk set is almost too beautiful to use, but when you work from home you need to be functional. So why not tape, open letters,store supplies and staple in style using mahogany and sonokeling wood accessories? After all, art and function are always the perfect combination.

Looking sharp
I don’t know what it is, but there’s something irresistible about oversized replicas of small things or miniature versions of large things. This giant pencil sharpener made from rubber wood, has plenty of room for pens and pencils and will look much better on your desk than a boring, regular size coffee cup.

Getting a kick out of tape
Last year I bought a red shoe tape dispenser — it works better when you add weights to the inside — so when I saw this black stiletto one, I had to upgrade. Those of you who are shoe lovers can appreciate the style and function of this not-so-ordinary dispenser. The purse Post-it note holder is optional.

 

 

Filed Under: Bare Essentials, Home office organizing, Home office products Tagged With: , ,

Bare Essentials: Hot Home Office Products

February 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Taking a stand
An iPad is handy when you travel and you don’t want to take a bulky laptop. But trying to watch a movie, read an e-book or even type on an iPad isn’t as easy as on a laptop. The A-Fold iPad® Stand holds your iPad either vertically or horizontally and stores flat. You’ll see your iPad at a whole new angle.

Just what the doctor ordered
Finding a thumbtack when you need it isn’t always easy and storing them loose in a drawer is risky and painful. The Essential Vita-pins Push Pin Set is the perfect cure. Each plastic pill pulls apart and becomes two separate pushpins. The apothecary jar makes it easy to store them until you need them.

Let it grow
I’m notorious for killing plants (either too much water or not enough) so when I get flowers, at least I know they’ll last a few days. The USB Flower Hub will last even longer and serve more of a purpose than just looking nice and smelling good. The 4 USB 2.0 high-speed ports are Windows and Mac compatible and the hub doesn’t take up much room.

Filed Under: Bare Essentials, Home office products Tagged With: ,

Bare Essentials: Hot Home Office Products

December 10, 2010 By

The writing is on the wall
Why use a boring white board for notes and reminders when you can use a peel and stick chalkboard? Each pack comes with four vinyl (9” x 12”) sheets that are removable (they won’t harm most surfaces) and you can reposition them if you need to. Another option is to buy chalkboard paint and paint it directly on your wall, but chalkboard sheets are easier and less messy to install.

Fish you could have this?
I like products that are functional and stylish, but now I’m into fun and functional products. This fully functional fish tank will add a little life and interest to your home office. Plus there’s a place to hold supplies, you’ll always know what time it is and you’ll have extra light in your home office. The low voltage pump and filtration system runs off of USB power. The fish run off of fish food.

Power on-the-go
In business, power is good. When you travel with a smart phone and other tech tools, power is everything. The USB Flexible Charging Station can charge up to four mobile devices at one time. Whether you want one place in your home office to power up or you want to avoid dealing with endless cords (who doesn’t?), this roll-out docking station can help you get all the power you need.

Filed Under: Bare Essentials Tagged With: , , , ,
Hide me
Sign up now for an excerpt from Organize Your Home Office for Success!
Name Email
Show me
Sign up now for an excerpt from Organize Your Home Office for Success!
Enter your e-mail address below to get an excerpt from Organize Your Home Office for Success. You'll also receive updates and occasional promotions that are available only to subscribers. We respect your privacy and will not share your information with anyone.
Close