Keyboard Karma ~ a blog by Helen Crozier

Use your local library to save money

Biblioteca Di Bella Arti, Milan, Italy, image courtesy Librophiliac Love Letter 

In the interests of frugality combined with my passion for reading I've been happy to report that joining an extra online book club has not so far resulted in any extra expense. Whilst my local council library unfortunately lacks the glamour of the Biblioteca Di Bella Arti in Milan I have been pleased that they have saved me well over $100 so far as I have been able to source four books from their well stocked shelves.

Are you aware that most local libraries have an online catalogue for you to browse so you don't waste time going there only to find the book is out? My group of libraries for example is here. You can often log in with your membership number and reserve the book as well.

Don't be put off by the 'chore' of having to return it either. Renewing is also possible online if you have not finished your book before the due date.

My local library even has a calculator which lets you work out how much money you save by using their services! 

Are you missing out on the joy of reading by not visiting your library?

Could you help perhaps the elderly in your neighbourhood by borrowing large print or audio books for them on their behalf?

sometimes lowtech is best for taking notes

 

 I had a bit of a crazy day on Friday. I was heading to a networking lunch across the other side of town when a mad tow-truck slammed into the left side of the car. Pieces of automobile were flying through the sky and I was just really grateful that no-one was in the passenger seat and that the truck had not forced me into a head-on collision sort of situation. When I was gathering details from the truck driver I kept wanting to take photos of everything (like the truck, the driver, his licence etc) basically because I didn't have a pen in my bag. Normally I shoot with my iPhone instead of writing stuff now and it works fine. The only problem is that it would NOT work when I had such shaking hands and a brain temporarily mushed by fear. Eventually the dude who had ruined my afternoon plans and trashed my car because he 'didn't see me' wrote his details on a piece of paper for me. Lesson learned? Going back to carrying my little black moleskine notebook and an old-school biro 'just in case'.

Julie/Julia Project: the art of simple blogging

 

Just returned from seeing the delightful Julie and Julia at the movies. I pounced on this book when it first emerged in 2005 when I wasn't even blogging myself. I loved it though - the story was very sweet and it had 'successful movie' written all over it!  In 2002 Julie Powell began her food blog. She was using such simple vanilla blog software with no social media widgits  - nothing really other than a calendar, a countdown box saying how many days she had to go to finish the project, how many recipes left to cook from Julia Childs' Mastering the Art of French Cooking, a comments area and that was that. Friends at Julie's birthday 'lobster' dinner come up with the idea of putting a paypal button on the blog for donations to fund the ingredients for future meals but that for some reason did not seem to eventuate.

Ahh technology was so different back then. The scene where Julie is having lunch with her girlfriends is a reminder of how far we've travelled. One of them is entering info or checking her diary on a Palm PDA (one of my favourite early tech tools). All the mobile phones are chunky flip numbers. The television in Julie's flat is exactly like the one in my son's room - a real 'box'....

Interestingly enough Julie Powell has kept her current blog almost as simple as the original. It's written on blogger and there are no widgets. It is the ultimate plain unadorned blog containing a profile, a few links and archives to previous posts. Nothing else!! I have to say I find it rather refreshing considering what blogging widgets and gizmos we have available today.

So... if you are inspired to write a blog - don't worry about all the decoration - truly it is more about the message rather than how it looks ... ok?

If your heart says you should be a blogger don't get bogged down in the technology - Julie didn't and still does not!

PS I thoroughly enjoyed the movie - two love stories, two dreams and lots of gorgeous scenes from Paris - what more could you want?

Life without the internet - bliss or not possible?

I'm in New Zealand this week connecting with family and old school friends. Just back from a trip to visit my uncle who lives in the remote but beautiful Golden Bay. He's just built a stunning house overlooking the sea and has a 15 minute drive through spectacular scenery to his office each day. I needed to log on to the internet to check out something and asked him if he had access. His reply? "No, don't have it....it was too much hassle so I gave it away." Sure enough the old pc was sitting redundant in the garage next to his amazing blazing red triumph motorbike. I kept thinking of all the things he might be missing out on by not having the internet but then I thought of all the 'time' he would gain by not having it. Interesting how lately I've been craving internet-free or computer-free zones in my life. Does being bombarded by the web and all the information it contains add to our stress? Why do some of us become so addicted to being up to date and current with all that's going on EVERYWHERE? Is the simple answer just to stop being always 'on' and 'connected'?
Gen Y can't seem to live without it but perhaps we should be training them just exactly HOW to do so. This has been done on a slow dial-up connection at my Dad's house which is more than enough to make me stay off-line!!!

Zen To Done: The Simple Productivity E-Book!

Zen Habits won "Best Overall Blog 2007" and it's not hard to see why if you hang out there for a while. Leo Babauta's a brilliant writer and seeing as I"m the 'calm tech coach' I can relate well to his 'zen' habits.

Zen Habits covers: achieving goals, productivity, being organized, GTD, motivation, eliminating debt, saving, getting a flat stomach, eating healthy, simplifying, living frugal, parenting, happiness, and successfully implementing good habits.

This morning I purchased his e-book Zen to Done and read it from cover to cover. One of the best e-books around - you can buy it here and the reason I recommend it is that it merges some of the best productivity theories around (David Allen, Stephen Covey) but brings a whole new fresh look of simplicity and possiblity to the idea of getting the IMPORTANT done rather than just the URGENT.  I'm going to buy more copies and GIVE them to my clients.

What is ZTD?

Simply put, Zen To Done is a simple system to get you more organized and productive, and keep your life saner and less stressed, with a set of habits. ZTD teaches you:

1. The key habits needed to be productive, organized, and simplified … and no more than that.
2. How to implement these key habits … tips on forming a habit.
3. How to organize these habits into a simple system that will keep everything in your life in its place.
4. How to simplify what you need to do.
5. Minimal ZTD. Also includes an even simpler version called Minimal ZTD.

Leo's got an astronomical 32900 subscribers to his blog - and the great news is that today he QUIT HIS DAY JOB and he attributes the success of his e-book to being able to do that so let's keep buying his work and supporting him.

Congratulations Leo I'm so happy for you!

Inexpensive & simple cord control

I'm in love with this too! Why didn't I discover this before last weekend. I spent hours sorting through my old techy bits and pieces. I took the ziplock bag option but had I known about this gem I would have far preferred this method of dealing with those cable snakes. So insanely simple!!! Thanks to unclutterer for this tip.

I stumbled upon a suggestion in Stephanie Winston’s Best Organizing Tips that was so easy and inexpensive that I may have a crush on it. From page 141:

Are your extension cords all tangled up in a pile? Mary Ellen suggests winding each cord loosely and slipping it into a cardboard tube from paper towels or toilet tissue.

SMOY Photo Cuff - cool gift idea

Found in my bookmarks from last year! I love this idea and am going to get it together to finally order a few - great presents. These SMOY photo cuffs are designed and handmade in New York and are perfect for holding passport size/mobile phone photos. Photos are held securely in between layers of the cuff along with a clear plastic cover to protect them for every day use. Pictured here is the Soho 4 - $34.95 if purchased from the Australian site.  Click here to see a demonstration of how they work.

Smoy Australia www.smoy.com.au (a recent development?)
Smoy USA www.smoy.com

Doorganizer - might work!

Saw this helpful low-tech gadget in my local gift store last week and thought it had potential.

Here is the blurb about it...
The Doorganizer© is a hanging reminder and organizer for the doorknob. Ideal for keys, eyeglasses, cell phones, palm-held devices, music players, even envelopes or newspapers fit into the strip at the back!

• Constructed of stitched heavyweight canvas-like fabric
• Three open pockets and clip on the front; open loop strip on the back
• Hang on the doorknob where you exit the house to hold oft-forgotten essentials.

Available in black, red, camel or pink.

Selling for $24.95 in my local store, $16.95 at www.giftedstore.com.au but you have to consider postage. (Disclaimer: I have not used giftedstore and do not know of anyone who has) Does anyone have a doorganizer (doorganiser) - did they use it or did it just become another piece of clutter? Principle is good I'm just worried about the size of the pockets so would like to hear opinions.

Truly Offline - pen & paper works too!

When I am asked what "I do" and reply that I'm a Technology Coach some people start looking uncomfortable and you almost see them edging towards the door or looking for a place to hide :-). You see I think they have the perception that my role is to encourage them to spend MORE time on computers. The thing is my ultimate goal is to help women gain more discretionary time that they can spend on themselves by becoming more familiar with or learning about what in the name of technology can help make their lives easier and less stressful. Yes that is my aim... my dream.... to provide women with some extra tools and skills that will make running their businesses and/or homes easier and simpler.

So to practice what I preach I have just returned from a five day break down the lovely unspoilt South Coast - for my part it was completely tech-free. I even left my beloved Treo in my sock drawer because I KNEW the phone reception down there was non-existent. I read a little, walked, chatted with friends, watched Hairspray on a rainy afternoon and when I couldn't resist the urge did a little 'business planning' low-tech in my nice moleskine cahier. Time offline, off-air or whatever you choose to call it is more critical than ever and I'm hoping to help many women who are 'doing too much' chill just a little.... looking forward to the journey!