Nothing says the start of a new year like the purchase of a brand new, crisp, clean, completely blank Moleskine weekly planner. Though the Italian company calls itself “The legendary notebook of Hemingway, Picasso, and Chatwin”, it actually opened in 1996, and fashions its notebooks after Chatwin’s descriptions of his beloved notebook (which were produced in France). Nonetheless, with the week on the left and room for notes on the right, a large pocket in the back, a ribbon bookmark for easy access to the current date, and that signature oilcloth cover and elastic closure, it is the closest thing I’ve found to a perfect weekly planner (I turn mine sideways to view the week landscape-style)

($10.45 at MoleskineUS).

He’s helping us lose the extra baggage sans cutting back calories, and has turned the art of decluttering into a lifestyle.  Peter Walsh has starred as the no-nonsense professional organizer on the TLC show Clean Sweep for the past three years, and now spreads his talent for organizing and clutter-control with articles, books, motivational seminars, and a full range of goodies for your inner clean freak at Peter Walsh Design. 

When he’s not out teaching the world the value of simplicity, you’ll find him on ThisNext, rounding up the latest products for your living and working spaces.  We caught up with Peter to learn what it really takes to stay organized and enjoy the benefits of a clutter-free lifestyle: 

TN:  What’s the biggest myth people have about staying organized?
PW: That is you focus on the stuff you’ll get organized. Clutter – surprisingly – is seldom about ‘the stuff’. If you want to get organized you first have to ask yourself “What’s my vision for the life I want to be living?” When you have that vision clearly in your head, then start looking at what you own and ask yourself “Does this item help me achieve that vision?” If it does, keep it. If not, what’s it doing in your home or your life?

TN: When did you become passionate about organization, versus just design in general?
PW: Probably in-utero! Organization and organic come from the same root-word. I have always wanted to be fully whole and the best person I can be so I guess that organization has always been a part of who I am and how I tick.

TN: What’s one of the easiest/best things someone can do to get organized?
PW: Stop buying stuff. Get rid of stuff they don’t need or love or use. More is not better and a richer life comes when you free up your space and focus on the quality of your relationships rather than the quantity of your stuff.

...continued: Who Is Peter Walsh?

Gift bags - we all get them, and then save them to give away. The gift bag organizer solves the problem of where to store them so you know where to find them come birthday time or the holidays. Stick gift bags of all shapes and sizes - even the big, boxy ones - into the plastic pockets. It hangs on any closet rod, so you can stick it in the back closet where no one can see it. We all reuse gift bags, but you don’t want anyone to see you reuse theirs!

momAgenda’s desk pads are helping moms multi-task more smoothly. These pretty yet practical polka-dotted notepads contain all the necessary info needed to plan meals, make a to do list or grocery shopping list, inform the babysitter, or schedule someone to pick up your kids.

Buy 2 for an affordable $15, and stick them both on the fridge - there’s a magnet on the back - for easy access.

Fish Out Of Water is one incredibly busy lady. “In the past five and a half years my life has gone from somewhat dull to completely full and exhausting (but in a good way),” she tells us. “I got married in 1999, bought a house in 2000, bought three rental properties in 2002, and had a baby girl and started grad school in 2003, all the while being employed full-time. Somehow I turned into someone who is always doing a million things all the time. I often feel like a 12-year-old running around in adult’s body trying to “play house” and wondering whether I’m succeeding. (I just turned 30 in March — I guess I better figure out how to be a grown-up now.)” One of the ways Fish manages to keep moving is by getting and staying organized, and she does that with FlyLady.com, this remarkably effective site that takes you through a step-by-step plan to remove the clutter from your house and your life. The program includes daily “FlyMails”, calendars, recipes and household hints…and The Fish swears by it. “This site has saved my household! Still a long way to go, but now I have some support and some instructions on how to do it! Amazing.” That’s what we thought…

Everyone knows that a pretty office makes a happy worker bee.  Lovely design/trend blogger spiralbound_ just started a fab new job and is busy getting her space all gussied up with pretty office products like these filing folders from Papersource.

spiralbound_’s shopcasting is so lovely (her blog categories are simple, specific and filled with a thoughtfully curated list of products) - we’re dying so see what her new office space looks like.  

Like desk clocks and even vases - the very useful bulletin board is long overdue for a modern face lift.

Thanks to BigPerk your bills and to-do lists need no longer fade into cork (or toile) oblivion.

From the makers of the equally useful TAK pushpin, next, the TAKboard. And they describe it best themselves:

Beautiful. 

Martha Stewart-like organization with Kate Moss chic, at a Target price point?

ThisNext loves good-looking and smart products that make your life easier; thanks to the Bag Lady for discovering this jewelry organizer.