August 27th, 2008
Under the bed can be a messy field day, or an organized dream; which would you rather have?
You can store lots under a bed, but one, it’s not a good storage solution if you can’t later find an item easily. Two, it can be a pain in the back - literally. Hauling out big bulky boxes can be painful on both your back and knees.
Here’s the best solution if you’d like to use under the bed storage to its fullest:
This 17 gal Wheeled Underbed Box from Rubbermaid is a good example of what to look for. You should find clear storage for easy locating of under the bed items, and you should use storage on wheels, or castors for easy pull-out action.
The only thing I don’t like about the above solution is that it doesn’t seem to have handles. If it did have handles you could tie some rope around the handle for an even easier pull-out. If you can’t find something on wheels that you like, find some strong clear storage bins you do like, and fix them atop a tray with castors attached.
Note: make sure to measure first (carefully). Nothing is worse than building custom under the bed storage, only to find you built too tall.
Tags: clothing organization, easy clothing storage, make storage, storage solutions, under bed storage, under the bed storage, underbed storageShare This
By Jennifer -- 0 comments
August 26th, 2008
I read this tip recently about saving time on your bathroom routine - “Wax every 3-6 weeks instead of shave.”
I’m all for saving time sure, but waxing seems so darn painful. Of course this is coming from someone who tends to slice her legs open with razors while attempting to shave, so maybe I’m not one to talk.
What do you think? Are you willing to take on a more painful beauty routine to save time? What?
Tags: save time shaving, saving time in the bathroom, shaving legs, time managment, wax your legs, waxing legsShare This
By Jennifer -- 4 comments
August 25th, 2008
If you’ve been slacking about getting your kid’s lunch box - you’re almost out of time. In some states you are out of time, but we’ll assume you’ve got a couple of days. Here are some last minute lunch box options…
Concentrate Fruit Friendly Lunch Box from John Lewis - holds fruit safely! Very cool.
Lunch & Go Lunchbox from Aladdin.
Double Lunch Box (with name added) from Letterbox.
Find more… (including many eco-choices)
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Tags: eco lunch, fruit storage, lunch bag, lunch box, lunchbox, make a lunch bag, metal lunch box, organic lunch sackShare This
By Jennifer -- 0 comments
August 25th, 2008
Managing mealtime madness becomes crazy once the school year starts up. You can save time by thinking ahead. Instead of looking for what to cook, know what you’re going to cook. Designate mealtime menus - loose menus, nothing fancy. I’m not saying plan each dish, just plan a type of food.
For example:
- Monday: Chicken, rice, and veggie night
- Tuesday: Soup, bread, and salad night
- Wednesday: Fish and veggie night
- Thursday: Left-over night
- Friday: Pasta and salad night
This is flexible enough to be open to interpretation; for example, you could buy cheese or Spanish rice for Monday, and have fruit salad instead of veggie salad on Friday; but at least you have a general idea of what to shop for and what you’ll be cooking. This works better than an inflexible menu plan, because people seem to hate being tied down to food.
Another perk of this plan is that anyone can follow it - your spouse, your older child. Whoever is home knows what they need to get started for dinner.
On the weekends go nuts and do whatever. If you want to streamline even more, create a plan for breakfast and lunch as well - waffles on Mondays, tuna on Tuesdays, and so on.
[image via stock.xchng]
Tags: create a flexible menu plan, family dinner, kids in the kitchen, meal-planning, menu plan, menu planning, save time cooking, school night meal planningShare This
By Jennifer -- 0 comments
August 24th, 2008
If you have little kids who tend to have less complicated homework invest in something like the Alex Toys Car Valet
:
This way the kids can start (and maybe even finish) their homework on the drive home, which of course saves time for family time, chores, dinner, and more once at home. Bonus, you’re right there to answer questions - just don’t get too distracted with math problems - sometimes math and driving don’t mix.
Tags: back to school tip, family time, kids homework, organize homework, save time, time saving tipShare This
By Jennifer -- 1 comment
August 23rd, 2008
I love this lunch tote, and since it’s on sale, and it is back-to-school time, I figured I’d suggest it. Seriously, folks it’s on sale for UNDER $6. Yay.
This lunch tote is not available in orange anymore (sadness) but it is available in a spiffy green color. What I love is that it’s got cool storage features - like mesh pockets to hold food, and that cool clear pocket on the front. The clear pocket comes with a postcard of an artwork from MoMA’s collection, which is slick in itself, but I was thinking your child could also use it to stick in need-to-read notes from school. Then you see the notes.
Learn more about this lunch tote.
[lunch tote image via MoMA Store]
Tags: back to school gear, lunch bag, lunch box with storage, lunch tote, modern lunch tote, MoMA, moMA storeShare This
By Jennifer -- 1 comment
August 23rd, 2008
To cut bathroom clutter and cleaning down to size try this plan:
Gather all necessary bathroom cleaning items in one place, and keep the supplies tidy.
Keep up on medicine clutter - once a month quickly go through and toss expired meds. Make sure you don’t toss them inside though; your little ones might find med bottles in the garbage and think it’s candy. Place expired medicine into outdoor bins.
Group like items together - no matter the item. Make a first aid shelf or kit, place hair care in one place and face care in another. If you’ve got the room, keep excess supplies (extra shampoo and toothpaste) in a whole other room; possibly a bathroom box in the linen closet. Keeping excess supplies elsewhere keeps your bathroom less cluttered and cuts down on bathroom time (no searching for necessary items).
Soak before cleaning. If you sprinkle baking soda in your toilet, it can sit and soak as you clean the shelves. Spray the tub with vinegar and lemon juice, let it sit while you do something else. Many cleaners work better if they soak first. If you start with the soaking, it saves time.
Once a month go over the walls and cupboard doors with an all-purpose cleaner (or simply soap diluted in water). Keeping up on tiresome parts of cleaning the bathroom like walls and doors, means, you never need to do a heavy scrub down. It’s quicker to include this in your normal cleaning, then have to spend half a day twice yearly scrubbing stains.
Leave a recycling bin in the bathroom (along with the garbage can) then you won’t have toilet paper rolls littering the back of the toilet.
Tags: baking soda cleaner, bathroom chores, bathroom cleaning, bathroom clutter, bathroom recycling, declutter the bathroom, natural cleaners, quick clean, scrubbing the tubShare This
By Jennifer -- 0 comments
August 17th, 2008
If you need to get organized here are some reads you’ll enjoy:
Jeri’s Organizing & Decluttering News has a really cool post up; Words of Wisdom from Environmentally-Friendly Organizers
Learn about How Much Time You Actually Have at Productivity 501.
The fab Zen Habits has a classic post, A Guide to Creating a Minimalist Home, that frankly, everyone should read.
Lastly, check out how to develop your own organizing habits at BellaOnline.
[Image via stock.xchng]
Tags: declutter, develop organizing habits, Eco Organizing, minimalist home, need more time, organize your time, organizing habitsShare This
By Jennifer -- 1 comment
August 17th, 2008
If you’re headed back to college (or off to college for the first time), then get a handle on college life with some basic organizing and storage supplies:
Wall shelving - wall shelving is a great way to add extra space to a small dorm room.You can go for basic wall shelves…
[Melamine and Veneer Shelves with Tucaneto Brackets via The Container Store]
Or something with more stand out appeal:
[Wall-Mounted Galvanized Steel Cubes via The Container Store]
You’ll also need a bathroom tote for trips to the community bathroom - unless you’re lucky enough to have your own. You can check out some nice Neatnix Stuff Buckets we covered here previously, or choose a bucket-like organizer such as…
[Shower Tote via Bed Bath & Beyond]
Bed Bath & Beyond, by the way, has a cool college dorm checklist to read - see what you forgot to pack.
Instead of a long door mirror, you can do something like the Bubble Dot Mirror Set - a good way to get some mirror space, and dress up your dorm. Available at PB Teen.
Keep fresh snacks on hand with the tiny, Sanyo SR-3770S Counter-High Refrigerator, Black and Stainless-Steel
(available at Amazon):
Or try an adorable and colorful Supercool Fridge from PB Teen:
Helpful Tips:
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Tags: , charging stations, College, college dorm checklist, college dorm decor, college dorm fridge, college dorm life, college dorm organizing, college dorm room, college dorm storage, college dorm totes, college planning, wall shelvingShare This
By Jennifer -- 2 comments
August 14th, 2008
Sometimes don’t you get tired of only decluttering and organizing boring stuff like the linen closet? I know I do. Let’s look at something a little more whimsical today - cupcakes. There are all sorts of storage, handling, and holding solutions for the common cupcake. If you don’t know all your options you might just end up with something dull. That could be tragic.
If you’re having an end of summer party, then some of these might be perfect for you…
Silly Feet! Silicone Baking Cups
Ultimate 3-In-1 Cake Caddy
Filigree Cupcake Wrapper in Black - also available in white.
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Tags: baking cups, cupcake cups, cupcake holders, cupcake stand, entertaining, halloween cupcakes, organized cupcakes, pretty cupcakes, pumpkin cupcake, wedding cupcakesShare This
By Jennifer -- 2 comments
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