Organizing With Hooks…They Will Hook You In

June 15, 2010 By Gail Gray 6 Comments

Hooks are a great tool in organizing.  Having a home for things is a vital part of keeping an organized home.  They work well for towels (no need to fold and hang over a towel rod), keys, leashes, and frequently used bags/backpacks/jackets/sweatshirts.  I love to find great new hooks that are add decorative charm, but are at an affordable price.

Esty is a great place to find unique, affordable, adorable decor for you home.  For those of you who don’t know, Etsy is a place where those who craft and make handmade items sell their goods.  It is a website you can get lost in looking at all the great items people have created!  I wanted to share with you some of the fun hooks I found on Etsy.

OldNewAgain

RiriCreations

NoushkaDesigns

Wuda

AimeesRockWorks

Postroadvintage

MesquiteForge

I use hooks all over my home.  Truly they have made my life a lot easier.  There is less on the floor for starters!  Things are just easier to see.

I recently realized I outgrew my jewelry storage and needed to come up with something new.  I used hooks in my bedroom to hang my necklaces.  It to me is now the “art” in my bedroom.  I am not sure my husband finds it art, but I love the way it looks and now I wear more of my necklaces than I did before.

I use a key hook with mail slots for easy access to my keys.  The mail slots are used more for things I need to get me out the door.  My iPod is one of them.  Eye glass cleaner (my husband was hugely up-sold one day at the mall) is adorning the top section.

I also use them to hold backpacks and sweatshirt for school.  My boys were notorious for dropping their backpacks in the middle of the passthrough in our kitchen.  I installed the hooks so there was no excuse as to not having a place to put them!

I had always used a towel rod to hang my bath towels. I would waste spend time diligently lining up the folded towels to they sat perfectly even…and then I decided to throw in the towel – literally!  The hooks mean less work!

My kids have the same set up, except I did make the mistake of not installing the hooks low enough for my little one to reach.  He has found that if he climbs on the toilet seat he can reach the hook…but he is not a fan of it.  Word to the wise, for kids hang low!!!

I have hooks behind the doors of my kids rooms for their hats, hooks in the garage for baseball bags, tennis bags, and other sports bags.  I have a hook inside my kitchen cabinet under the sink for my towels.  Hooks in my office for my work bags.  I could go on and on…

Do you use hooks?  What other uses have you found for hooks?

Filed Under: Bathroom Organizing, Bedroom Organizing, Children and Family, Closet Organizing, Garage Organizing, Kitchen Organizing, Laundry Organizing, Organizing Products, Organizing Tips Tagged With: Bathroom Organizing, Children, closet organizing, clutter control, cutting clutter, declutter, Family, home maintenance, home organizing, Kitchen Organizing, Organizing, Organizing Children, Organizing Products, Organizing Tips, professional organizer, Professional Organizing, Professional organizing in Orange County, Residential Professional Organizing

8 Things to Organize With Your Kids This Summer

June 11, 2010 By Gail Gray Leave a Comment

I love the idea of summer. I really love  the thought of lazy days, the freedom from schedule and the fact there seems to be something fun to do everyday!  I have summer lovin’ for about 3 weeks and then I want to send the kids back to school!

I know I am not the only one who feels this way.  I have lots of conversations with moms who, about 3 weeks into summer vacation, are so sick of hearing their kids fighting, whining and saying, “I’m bored”!

We want our kids to get a break from the stress of school, but to what extent?  Lazy summer days can quite possibly bring out the worst in a family!  Giving our kids a relaxed schedule is ok, avoid a non-existant one.

Summer is a great time to work with your kids on some organizing projects that will help get the home and family more efficient come back to school time.  Use some scheduled time with your kids to get these projects accomplished with ease.

A few rules in working with kids on any organizing project:

  • Remeber to eat the elephant one bite at a time.  Don’t expect kids to last longer than an hour (for older children) or a half hour (for younger children).
  • Be positive.  For every negative comment you give your chance of finishing the project with the help of your children will diminish.  Use encouraging words and give praise.  I need to remind myself of this rule on a constant basis!
  • Give them fair warning.  Do not expect your child to jump when you call them to work on a project.  Let them know what time you plan on working together.  Think about their typical day.  If all the kids are playing outside and you call your child in to do work, the chances of a positive attitude from your child will be slim to none!

So you may be thinking what exactly can I work with my kids on?  Here is my top ten list of child friendly organizing projects:

  1. Art/school work organizing.  You probably have a stack of school work and art work that came home from school throughout the year.  Now is a great time to weed it down to what is really keepsake worthy.  Having your kids help pick their favorites is actually a huge help.  If you set a limit on how many they can keep, they will be sure to find the best of their best work!  See my post on Taming Your Budding Artist for more tips on organizing your children’s art work.
  2. Organizing toys. Toys can seem to muliply overnight like fleas.  Now is a great time to get their toys cleared and organized.  I know this may scare you, but once the kids get going, they will be more apt to keep the good and let go of the unused.  I have found that kids have toys so burried that they forget about toys.  Having the time to uncover these will most likely keep them occupied for hours.  It will be like Christmas morning all over again!  Check out more information on Organizing Their Toys.
  3. Kids Clothing Organizing. Now that they will be most likely to live in a bathing suit and t-shirts, get rid of the clothes that are so stained, too small, and unloved.  I must say, it is essential to have your child present when weeding out their clothes.  Donate, pass down or create rags from the clothes you purge.  Check out more information on Organizing Kids Clothing.
  4. Organize the video games.   My husband and I tried as hard as we could to avoid the whole video game thing.  We cave a few years ago and it is amazing how fast the “stuff” can get out of control.  Controllers, disks, little cartridges, stylus’, and cords seem to get intermixed and lost as fast as you buy them.  Unless you have no problem paying $60 everytime a video game is lost, getting this area of the home under control is vital!  Check out more information on Organizing Video Games.
  5. Organize Your Pantry. This is not a joke.  This is a good project to get the kids involved in.  This is where my kids and half the neighborhood live in the summer.  Have the kids help you clear out the food that is no longer loved, that is stale, or empty.  I love an organized pantry and so does everyone who comes to my home!  It is my pride and joy to let those who enter my home feed themselves as they please.  Check out more information on How to Organize Your Pantry.
  6. Organize the sports equipment.  Summer usually means a lull in sports.  There are camps and all-stars and other sporting commitments, but for the most part sports takes a back seat during the summer.  Now is a great time to weed out the old, unused, and broken equipment and make a list for any items that need to be replaced.  Check here for more information on Organizing Your Sports Equipment.
  7. Organize your summer gear.  Whether you have been out of school and in summer mode for a month now or just getting out of school, it is never to late to get your summer gear in order.  Designate a goto place for your beach and pool gear.   Have an easy to access place for pool towels and beach blankets.  Have sidewalk chalk and bubbles ready to keep your kids occupied!  Check your stock of sunscreen.  Remember sunscreen usually lasts about a year.
  8. Organize their homework zone.  I have noticed my son is slowly emptying out his backpack where he does his homework.  There are broken pencils, useless erasers and loose papers have taken over!  Take some time to clear their space and take inventory of what is left.  School supplies will start invading the stores sooner than you think!  To make sure you can take advantage of school supply sales and inventory (have you ever tried to find spirals in your child’s favorite color when the store has been picked over?!?)  Check here for more tips on Organizing your Child’s Homework Station.

Some days it feels like we make each day a Disneyland day.  Our kids wind up feeling like they need to be entertained at all times.  For a well balanced family, you need downtime, work time and time for fun.  Break these organizing activities down with your kids.  Take your time and the organizing changes you make will be long lasting.  Remember our job as a parent is to make sure to raise high functioning adults.  These summer projects will help teach your children how to make and keep an organized home!

Have an organized day!

    Filed Under: Bedroom Organizing, Children and Family, Closet Organizing, Garage Organizing, Organizing Products, Organizing Tips Tagged With: Children, clutter control, cutting clutter, Family, home organizing, Kids, Organizing, Organizing Children, Organizing Products, Organizing Tips, Parenting, professional organizer, Professional Organizing, Professional organizing in Orange County, Residential Professional Organizing

    Finishing Up Back to School

    September 1, 2008 By gailagray Leave a Comment

    My last post for Back to School is getting the garage in order for your kids sports activities.  The garage is a very busy place for the home.  From gardening supplies and sporting equipment to long term storage and hopefully a car, your garage can become a mad house very easily.  Garage storage can become a catch all for items you don’t quite know what to do with. 

    Living in Southern California, we have limited attic space and no basements for storage.  You have to be creative to store items in a garage as well as fit a car or two in it.  If you have no organizational systems working in your garage, it will be hard to have your kids be able to access their sports equipment easily and quickly.  The best way to make your garage function is to get the “stuff” cleared out and in order.  Plan on spending a weekend clearing out all the unused, unwanted, and unnecessary items.  After you decided what you have left that MUST stay, find containers that will help access items easily for all.

    There are many incredible products out there for transforming your garage.  Before you decide what type of storage you need or want, set a budget.  There are plenty of items that will make your garage function for every budget.  Before you set anything up, figure out a space in the garage for the kids sporting equipment.  The best use of garage space is the walls.  Going vertical will allow you to get the most use of the space.  Following are a few ideas you can use to help the kids keep equipment in order and allow them to maintain this order on their own.

    1.  A bag for each child’s sports.  If they have a bag to coral all their equipment, they can have their bags packed and ready for practice.  If it is swimming, they can have their towel, goggles, cap, suit and change of clothes for after practice.  This will save you running around the house finding all the items and wasting precious time. 

    2. Hooks for sports bags. Be it tennis, hockey, lacrosse, football, swimming, or soccer, your child will need a bag to transport their equipment to and from practice and games.  Have a hook for each child’s bag that is at their reach and will allow them to grab it and go.  Label above the hooks to avoid conflicts of whose hook is whose (yes you know it will happen that they will fight over one hook for who knows what reason other than to just drive parents crazy).

    3.  A place for cleats or shoes worn for each sport.  Cubbies are great as well as wall racks.  Again, make it easy for them to grab or put away, and in the same vicinity as their equipment bags.  Label these like the hooks so there is no fighting.

    4.  A list of what they need for each sport to make sure they have their bags packed and ready.  Laminate it if necessary, so they can refer to it as much as necessary. 

    Let’s face it, after school sports are expensive and take a lot of a parents time.  Between making sure each child is where they need to be and with what they need, it can be a full time job.  Having your child be responsible for their own equipment is an important life lesson.  In addition, you can hold the kids accountable for the loss of any items.  Establish family rules for how a child can help re-pay for the equipment lost.  They will be more aware of their equipment when they know what it will take to purchase a new one.

    As I have mentioned in previous posts, Back to School is not just about buying new school supplies and clothes.  It is a time for a fresh start!  Having the things you need for your kids to manage their own lives will allow you to be able to enjoy them more!  Teaching your children about organization and responsibility (no matter what age) are so important for their adult lives.  Use this transition time to work new habits and responsibilities into their lives as well as yours.

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    Filed Under: Children and Family, Garage Organizing, Manage My Time, Organizing Tips Tagged With: Back to School, Family, Garage Organization, Organizing, Organizing Children, Professional Organizing, Sports Equipment Organization