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

28 Days to Love Your Home – Day 11

February 11, 2010 By Gail Gray 4 Comments

Organizing Tips to Love Your Home

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Day 11

Today is Pantry Day! I love my pantry and so does my family. My husband will sometimes tease me about my organizing. He will roll his eyes when I bring home another organizing product to try out. But he really does love the home organized. He will go to others homes and come back and tell where they need help. He really appreciates the home organized, even with the eye rolls!

I love to teach my kids to fend for themselves. I keep my pantry stocked with snacks that the kids can get for themselves. I also have them help pack their lunches. The ease and convenience is vital in my kitchen. We have kids in and out all day! I love that our friends and neighbors can go to the pantry and help themselves. The organization is inviting!

Guess what the first step is? Take everything out and clean! Wipe the shelves and cabinet doors. You will be amazed at how much dust is in the pantry! Also, if you have ever had ants or bugs in the panty, it is vital to make sure there are no creatures lurking behind.

After you have pulled everything out, group like with like. Put together the crackers, the chips, the cereals, the pastas, the flour and sugar. What do you have in your pantry? What do you really use out of the food that is in the pantry. I love to see the jarred foods that come in gift baskets that no one really eats.   It is dusty and unloved lurking in the dark depths of the pantry.  Grab the trash can and a box or strong bag to take to a food bank.    Get rid of expired and stale  food and donate the unopened food you know you will not eat that is still good.

The key to an organized pantry is good containers.  Food in its original package usually is not the best way to store it. For one, it typically won’t seal (air tight).  Also, you can’t see through the packaging to see how much is left.  A clear container that seals well solves both those issues.  Not only will you easily make your grocery list and have your food last longer (cha-ching) the containers help use the space wisely, so you can easily get to what you want.  No more digging for something to eat!  (Note, I don’t use glass containers because I have too many small hands in the pantry – I can just imagine the mess that would be made if one broke.  If you prefer glass over plastic, be sure to keep small hands out of reach.)

pop top canisterssnapwareSquarePopCanisters_lNrrwStckngCnstrs_l

For loose items, like protein bars, spice packets, individual chips/cracker packages, and other items that don’t stand up well on their own, use baskets, old tupperware, or plastic containers to hold these in groups.  This is a picture of my pantry.  I prefer plastic over wicker baskets because they are easier to clean.  But I love the look of good baskets in a pantry!

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Everyone’s pantry is unique.  Even if you live in a tract home with the same pantry as your neighbor, your food will differ.  Even if you keep the same food as someone, you will have different spaces to keep it.  Look at your space and see what foods you REALLY need to keep.  Avoid the bowling affect (when you reach in to get something in the back and you knock everything down in its path) with grouping like foods in containers.  Also, watch out for the Costco overload!  Keep in the pantry only what is necessary for about a week or two.  Place extra up high or in another location and shop from your stock.

What you do you do to keep your pantry organized?

Filed Under: Kitchen Organizing, Organizing Products, Organizing Tips, Saving Money Tagged With: clutter, clutter control, cutting clutter, Family, home organizing, Kitchen Organizing, Organizing, Organizing Tips, professional organizer, Professional organizing in Orange County, Residential Professional Organizing

28 Days to Love Your Home – Day 10

February 10, 2010 By Gail Gray 1 Comment

Organizing Tips to Love Your Home

inside of a refridgerator

Day 10

We are loving our homes and currently we are in the kitchen. One area that gets the most abuse is the refrigerator. It is opened and closed over and over again! We stuff things in the fridge and and leave things behind longer than they should. We sometimes find science fair type experiments we didn’t even know we were trying to do!

Because this is such a vital part of our homes, we need to treat is with love. If our refrigerators are cleaned out, we make room for healthy good food. We want to make healthy choices, but if they are not convenient, we choose a less healthy option which is. Here is how you can organize your fridge (who knows you might even lose weight!):

  • Take all food out and clean the nooks and crannies.  All the shelves and drawers should be wiped down.  You can use a vinegar and water mix (a spray bottle filled with 1/4 vinegar and 3/4 water).
  • Check all the expiration dates.  Toss expired food and anything you won’t really eat.  (Yes that means the green fuzzy cheese!)
  • Like any organizing project, when you go to put things back group like with like.  In the door, keep salad dressings on one shelf, marinades on another, condiments on another, and so on.  Sounds simple I know, but if you don’t do this, you wind up searching for items wasting time, and not knowing what you actually have you will waste money if you buy a duplicate.
  • Assign homes for items.  Again, like the grouping of items, you need to assign a home.  This helps all who use the fridge know where items are and where to put them back.    Also, you will have an easier time scanning the fridge while making a shopping list.
  • Don’t keep eggs in the door of the fridge, even if you were given a container to hold them in the door.  Keep eggs in the container they came in.
  • Check the manual (can find online usually if you don’t have the one that came with the fridge) to see what the recommendations are for setting the temperature of the fridge.  This will help keep your food for longer, saving you money (just think how much food you throw away because it didn’t stay fresh.
  • Keep healthy foods at eye level.  If it is in front of us, we will make better choices!   This goes for children, too.  At their eye level, have healthy snacks available.  String cheese, fruit, carrots, yogurt and nuts in a basket or bin ready to grab will help kids make wise choices.  Have the snacks in ready to go portions, so there is no opening the fridge and saying, “I’m hungry and there is nothing to eat!”
  • Invest in good food storage containers.  I love (as mentioned many times before) Rubbermaid’s food storage containers.  They stack well in the fridge, are square (so is your fridge – think less wasted space than if you used round), and are see thru, allowing you to see what is inside.
  • Keep leftovers in one section of the fridge so they are not burried in the back.  Also, before you make the effort in packing leftovers, make sure you really will eat them.
  • Take the time to put away groceries right the first time.  A little extra time up front will help keep your food fresh and allow you to quickly find what you need.  I love to say, it takes time to make time!
  • Use produce containers or the produce compartments in your fridge.  These help to keep your food fresh longer (Can you say savings? You actually get to eat what you purchased!).  I LOVE the Tupperware FridgeSmart containers and Rubbermaid’s Produce Saver containers.  I am not kidding, I have had strawberries last a full week!tupperware fridgesmartrubbermaid produce savers

A clean fridge is easy to keep up.  I would love to hear your tips and recommendations!  What do you do to keep your refrigerator clean and organized?

Filed Under: Kitchen Organizing, Organizing Products, Organizing Tips Tagged With: Children, clutter, clutter control, cutting clutter, Family, home organizing, Kitchen Organizing, Organizing, Organizing Tips, professional organizer, Professional Organizing, Professional organizing in Orange County, Residential Professional Organizing

28 Days to Love Your Home – Day 9

February 9, 2010 By Gail Gray 2 Comments

Organizing Tips to Love Your Home

Photo From Martha Stewart

Photo From Martha Stewart

Day 9

Oh, I know I keep talking about the drawers.  Having organized kitchen drawers is so helpful in keeping the heart of the home running efficiently.  I think kitchen drawers are one of the easiest things to organize.  Really they are.  Like the Junk Drawer, containers are vital in keeping things organized.

I love organizing kitchen drawers for clients.  It gets instant results and takes no time to finish.  Here are some things to think about when clearing the clutter from your drawers:

  • Empty the drawers and wipe them out. You all are rolling your eyes at me for the cleaning step again, but it is vital in doing the project right!
  • If you have not lined your drawers or notice the lining is so dated you think you had the same kind when you were in elementary school, it may be time to do the dreaded task of lining your drawers.  I know this can be a pain, but it is worth it in the end.   I like liners that are easy to install.  Paying a little extra can make the difference in doing the job with ease!  When measuring, use a tape measurer like the ones used in sewing.  The flexibility will allow you to get a more accurate read in those small spaces.  Remember the carpenters rule – measure twice and cut once!   Use a T-Square or Yard Stick to cut the drawer liner in a straight line!  Check out this liner from The Container Store:shelf liner
  • Think about what you actually use and need.  I think a drawer for flatware, one for cooking utensils, one for food storage (Ziplock bags, wax paper, tin foil), one for towels, and one for measuring cups/spoons/baking utensils.  If you have more cabinet space than drawer space, some of these items may wind up in the cupboards, but if you have more drawer space than cabinet space, you may have more drawers dedicated to other kitchen needs.  The point is to separate and assign.  Give your drawer a purpose, and remember  ”General” is not a purpose.
  • Use drawer organizers and dividers.  These are so worth the small investment!  Even with a drawer liner, things tend to get shifted around in the drawer.  You wind up spending additional time looking for things and separating them!  Here are a few of my favorites:rubbermaid silverware organizerExpandADrawerCutleryTray_xSpiceDrawerOrganizerTaupe_xShllwDrwrOrgnzrs_xlkitchen drawer organizer - expandable
  • Clear out all the stuff you really don’t use.  Do you really need 5 spatulas?  Do you need 5 mismatched sets of measuring cups?  When was the last time you really used a rolling pin?  Are there coupons spilling out of drawers?  Get down to what you actually use.  To love our homes we need to live for today!

As I have been saying in the other posts about loving your home, think before you put back.  Don’t just shove them back in because you are tired and want to be done.  Finish the job right!  Think about where you use things and where is the best place to put things back.  Utensils near the stove top, silverware easily accessible, coupons in an organizer in the car (you can’t use a coupon if it is not with you!).  Do you use your measuring cups daily?  Then they need to hold prime real estate!  Do you use Ziplock bags more frequently than measuring spoons? Take items used less frequently and move away to the bottom drawers or drawers that are not as convenient.

Divide and conquer those drawers and assign homes to all you need.  You will save so much time by not digging for things you need amongst things you never use!

For more tips and solutions to drawer organizing, see Day 6 of the 28 Days to Love Your Home (GIVE AWAY still valid!) and Dream Drawers.

Time yourself and see if you can get your drawers cleared out in an afternoon.  This one should be one of the easiest days!  If not, let me know what is holding you back and we will try and solve the problem together!

Filed Under: Kitchen Organizing, Organizing Products, Organizing Tips Tagged With: clutter, clutter control, cutting clutter, home organizing, Kitchen Organizing, Organizing, Organizing Products, Organizing Tips

28 Days to Love Your Home – Day 8

February 8, 2010 By Gail Gray Leave a Comment

Organizing Tips to Love Your Home

Kitchen Cupboard

Day 8

The kitchen really is the heart of the home. How do you keep your heart healthy? By exercising it daily and eating a reduced calorie and low fat diet. The same goes for the kitchen. Think of your cabinets like the arteries to your heart. If you keep them clean, they will keep the flow of blood pumping to the heart making it an efficient well running machine.

Cabinets can be hard for people to keep clean and organized. The out of sight out of mind problem happens to most. Because the contents are behind closed doors, we don’t readily see the mess. When something is out in the open we have a tendency to make it more of a priority. I have had clients where you open the cabinet door and it is like a Jenga game waiting to be played. Things are so systematically stacked and stuffed that if you remove one item, you could knock the whole stack down.

As we are loving our home, we need to remember the spaces that aren’t out in the open. Keeping these up should be easy once they are set. Just think, you will get the dishes, pots and pans put away quickly leaving you more time to enjoy life! (That is unless you enjoy putting away dishes, you can take all the time you want!).

As I have said in the other days of loving your home, it is time to take it all out and get it clean. Wipe down the cabinets, inside and out. You will be amazed how much dust and crumbs can get into your cabinets. As much of a pain it is to clean cabinets, it is worth it to finish this project right.

Now that you have all your cabinet contents to out, it is time to sort. Really think, do I need 3 different sets of plates and bowls? Do I need 25 mismatched wine glasses? Do I need hundreds of tupperware containers and lids that don’t match? Do I need 7 sauce pans and 5 fry pans? Think about what you cook and when the last time you used something. Can a few pieces do double duty so you can rid yourself of others? Get lean. These are your arteries and you don’t want them clogged!

Here are a few tips to make life a little easier in your cabinets:

  • Have one set of all white plates and bowls.  White matches everything and keeps you from having multiple sets.  Find a set that is timeless. You will be able to add to the set if something breaks or match it with something similar.
  • Have just enough pots and pans.  You will be doing dishes every day (I hope) so you don’t need the pans of the same size.  If you are throwing a big dinner party, borrow any thing extra you need from a friend.  Keeping extras for one or two days a year just doesn’t make sense!
  • Have one set of food storage containers.  I LOVE my Rubbermaid set.  I have the Easy Find Lids and the Premium Set.  I love that they mix and match and that they store so easily and neatly!  I know this sounds like a commercial for Rubbermaid, but when something is good, you just can’t help telling people about it!

easy find lids rubbermaidpremium rubbermaid food storage

When putting everything back in your new clean cabinets, pause a moment and think about where you do things.  Do you have coffee mugs on the other side of the kitchen from the coffee maker?  What do you use most often?  The things we use most often should be readily available in the most convenient space.  It is hard to change from where things have always been, but you will be a lean, mean efficient machine if you keep things close to where you use them!  Yes, you may go to the old spot a few times, (I refer to it as walking in circles- you get to where you used to find things and realize it is in a new space!) but eventually you will be moving along in the kitchen at the speed of light!  (OK, how fast is that really – I have already forgotten my high school education!)

Other things to think about when putting things back is the best use of space.  Here are a few items that help in maximizing your cabinet space:

Upper Cabinets

Lower Cabinets

Tell us what is the most outrageous thing you have been holding onto.  How did it feel to get it out of the cabinet?

Filed Under: Kitchen Organizing, Organizing Products, Organizing Tips Tagged With: clutter, clutter control, cutting clutter, home organizing, Kitchen Organizing, Organizing, Organizing Products, Organizing Tips, professional organizer, Professional Organizing, Professional organizing in Orange County

28 Days to Love Your Home – Day 7

February 7, 2010 By Gail Gray 1 Comment

Organizing Tips to Love Your Home

kitchen white

Day 7

We are almost one week into loving our homes this month. I can’t tell you how fun it is to think about getting your homes to where you can’t wait to show them off. It will be like your new high school boyfriend/girlfriend you are just so excited about you can’t stop talking (or texting these days) about how much you like them! As we move around the house clearing the clutter, I think we should now move out of the office and into the heart of the home. The kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the house.

Kitchen counters collect the most amount of clutter on a daily basis. It is the open flat surface (or not so open depending on the amount of clutter) that seems to attract piles. Since we are in and out of the kitchen so often, it becomes the most natural place to dump. I have a habit myself of running in the home with my arms full, dumping everything on the counter and then running to the restroom. After that, I then come back to sort my pile of stuff! I will admit there have been times that I went 24 hours before actually dealing with it. I have moved my piles from the counter to the kitchen table and then back again. Why is it we do this?

The habits we pick up, whether good or bad, can be hard to figure out. I know if I take the time to sort through the stuff immediately, the traffic flows smoothly. If I leave it there is congestion on the road and I am stuck in gridlock!
The habit of dealing with things immediately can be hard in the land of procrastination. One reason for procrastination is not knowing what to do with something. If we sort through our counter clutter, you will open your eyes to why you do what you do. If you don’t have a home for something like kids school memos that come home, you leave them in the pile on the counter, hoping to get through it. Unfortunately lots of things pile up and you have such a large pile it is overwhelming to think about dealing with it.

Today, take all the items off your countertops. Use a large bin if you have to. Clean your countertops. I mean really clean them. Get all the nooks and crannies. We want this job to be thorough. Now, sort through all the stuff. Think about why it is sitting on the counter and how you can avoid having this pile up again. Make piles, throw away/recycle papers, we want to uncover the whys in what you do.

Once you have the counters cleared and the piles sorted, think about what has to take place in the kitchen and what has to sit on the counters. Does everything (decorations, appliances, containers) need to be on the counter? Only things we use on a daily basis should be taking up valuable counter space. Do you have a bread maker collecting dust on the counter? Do you have decorations you no longer care for eating up prime real estate? Clear these and get down to the nitty gritty. When putting things back on the counter, think of stations. Think about the most easy and convenient way to go about your business in the kitchen. Place things back where they make the most sense.

If you are the type who has a home office, but still seems to do the majority of your paper work in the kitchen, look into an attractive file box and supply caddy that can sit on the counter to get your work done. We naturally gravitate towards spaces to accomplish things. If the kitchen is yours, find a way to use the space. If we fight our natural instincts, we wind up right back where we started from! I love these file boxes and desk top accessories from See Jane Work and The Container Store!

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StockholmDesktopFilesAll_x
green file box from see jane workpencil cups

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When completing your mission to clear counter tops, think about attractive decorations. These decorations help us to love our space. When spaces are nicely decorated it makes you want to keep it clean! But avoid tchotchkes, trinkets and small items. Kitchens get dirty and the more you have to clean, the longer it will take. I don’t know too many people who want to spend any more time cleaning than they have to.

I would love to see your before and after pictures!  Tell us what you got decided to take off your counters and how you will be using the space in a more efficient way!

Happy organizing!

Filed Under: Kitchen Organizing, Organizing Products, Organizing Tips Tagged With: clutter, clutter control, cutting clutter, home organizing, Kitchen Organizing, Organizing, Organizing Products, Organizing Tips, professional organizer, Professional Organizing, Professional organizing in Orange County, Residential Professional Organizing

28 Days to Love Your Home – Day 6 – GIVE AWAY!!!

February 7, 2010 By Gail Gray 75 Comments

Organizing Tips to Love Your Home

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Day 6

Do you have clean drawers? (If you are a Southerner – you will see the humor in that question!) As an organizer I think the funniest question I was asked was whether or not I had a junk drawer. I really don’t. Not in the sense that you would think. I have organized drawers. I really do. Are they perfect, not a chance, but they are pretty close. I have been the biggest fan of the organized drawer since I was little. I was not the cleanest child, but my drawers were neat and tidy. It is a pet peeve of mine to have to look for things when I know where they should be. I am impatient and don’t like to have waste time! Riffling through stuff is only fun for me when it is a massive discount sale!

Today we will tackle the junk drawer.  Rubbermaid has a great post about Junk Drawer Organization.  Check it out here. We are loving our homes this month and you will love your home even more if you aren’t wasting time looking for things.  Do you want to have an organized junk drawer?  You may never want to call it a junk drawer again!

I think the best way to organize drawers is with drawer organizers. I have posted about drawer organizers before, but this time one of my favorite companies gave me drawer organizers to give away. I have to say, these are so cool! (Yes I need help!). Rubbermaid has a new line of drawer organizer, perfect to contain your junk! Let me drool over them as I tell you more about them!

  • The drawer organizers have special feet to help stabilize the in the drawer.  The feet stop the organizers from crashing back and forth in the drawer as it is opened and closed.  That is cool, cause in one of my drawers, the littlest one gets lost as it flings to the back of the drawer…genius solution I say!
  • The drawer organizers have a grip lining in a cute pattern to again help keep the stuff in the drawer organizer from flinging around!
  • The drawer organizers interlocking feature to let you create any configuration that fits both your needs and your drawer space.   This interlocking feature also helps to ensure the drawer organizers stay together!  That means it still looks good at all times!

Rubbermaid will send the lucky winner a 6 piece Drawer Organizing Set (like the ones pictured above)

For my give away, you will have to answer one question…What is the strangest thing you found while cleaning out your junk drawer?

The contest will end February 14th.  For additional entries, post to FaceBook and Twitter (RT’s are welcome too) and let me know you did (another comment).

Valid For Only US and Canada!

*************************THIS GIVEAWAY IS CURRENTLY CLOSED*****************************

Filed Under: Bathroom Organizing, Kitchen Organizing, Office Organizing, Organizing Products, Organizing Tips Tagged With: clutter, clutter control, cutting clutter, home organizing, Office Organizing, Organizing, Organizing Tips, professional organizer, Professional organizing in Orange County, Residential Professional Organizing

Organizing Products – Dream Drawers

January 14, 2010 By Gail Gray 1 Comment

Organizing Tips – Organizing Products to Help Get You Organized

Do you dream of organized drawers?  Whether the drawers are in your kitchen, desk, dresser or bathroom, drawers tend to get cluttered very quickly.  Drawers are actually a form of a container.  Containers are vital to organizing.  Containers set a limit, a boundary.  But so many times people will stuff put many things into the drawer it looses its functionality.  If your drawers are on full tilt, it may be time to use containers within a container!

Here are a few drawer organizers I can’t live without.  All of these products you can find at my favorite store…The Container Store, but you can also find similar items at Target, and even sometimes dollar stores and drug stores.  You can also get creative and repurpose items you already own, like check book boxes, shoe boxes and Tupperware that has no lids.

interlocking drawer organizers

This is by far my most favorite product.  You can find them in all sizes, sold separately or in sets, and can be used in any drawer in your home.

DeepDrawerOrganizers_l

These are great because they are a little deeper than others.  Again, great for any drawer in your home!

BambooDrawerOrganizers_l

These bamboo dividers are beautiful, so if you want to look in your drawer and feel like a millionaire, these are the dividers for you!

MeshKitchenDrawerOrgnzr_l

I like these mesh ones because they look so industrial.  I don’t like these in kitchens, because crumbs fall through them and now you are cleaning a container and a drawer…no extra work for me! A solid one holds the crumbs and keeps the drawer clean.  I like these for desk drawers!

AdjustableOrganizer_l

These drawer dividers are adjustable, so if you want to share the container with two items, you won’t have creeping.  If only they made these in cars for children, so they don’t ever argue, “You’re on my side!”

ClearViolaDrawerOrganizers_l

These are great for dresser drawers.  The larger sizes are great for keeping underwear, socks, tights and more under control!

dream drawer dividers

These are so great for dressers!  T-shirts, shorts, pants, bathing suits and more will be happy in their little aisle!

TweedDrawerOrganizers_l

Again, if you want to open your drawers and feel  like a millionaire, these are the dresser drawer organizers for you!

With all the choices there are out there for all budgets, spaces, and taste, there is no excuse why you can’t have beautiful organized drawers of your dreams!  The only thing holding you back is if you have more than you need in there.  As you put items back in your drawer, purge any and all items you are no longer in need of!  Happy organinizing!

Filed Under: Bathroom Organizing, Bedroom Organizing, Kitchen Organizing, Organizing Products, Organizing Tips Tagged With: Bathroom Organizing, clutter, clutter control, cutting clutter, home organizing, Organizing, Organizing Products, Organizing Tips, Professional organizing in Orange County

Simplifying Your Kitchen Clutter – Keep the Plastic Containers from Taking Over

June 7, 2009 By Gail Gray Leave a Comment

At the recent National Association of Professional Organizers annual conference, I signed up to give a review of the latest lines of Rubbermaid food storage containers. I was excited as a child on their birthday when I received my package of containers in the mail. My children were looking at this package I received like what is the big deal, but I was quick to open it and pull out everything to see what was inside.

Rubbermaid sent four types of food storage containers for review. I have to say, I am not big on too many choices, so I was a little disappointed at first that I had to review four. But after playing around with them are reading more about each, they all make sense and I can see why they have each line. The best feature of all these lines is the lids lock together and then lock to the bottoms of the storage containers, keeping your storage containers organized in your kitchen cabinets and drawers!

Let me explain, I did not need new containers, but I am a bit unhappy with the ones I choose for myself. The problem I find with the ones I own are that they are hard to store in my small space designated for storage containers. The lids have flaps and take up so much space! Other than that, they serve my purposes, so I needed Rubbermaid to win me over!

The first is the Easy Find Lids line. I would say for the most basic storage containers, these rock. I had already owned the smallest version of these containers and I love the way the lids stay together. I will say they can be a bit hard to open for my youngest child, but other than that, I love these. I use them in my children’s lunch and mine, and can’t think of anything more I would need for everyday use for lunches. (Can you say so long to Ziplock bags?!?)

The second is the Produce Saver. I have been using the Tupperware line of Fridgesmart for all my produce, so I was a bit skeptical of how these would compare. I really like the Fresh Vents to allow airflow which keeps the produce fresher for longer! Also, the Crisp Tray keeps the produce up with vents underneath to keep the produce from sitting in moisture. I love my Tupperware, but they don’t have a great line for taking produce in your lunch or on the go. I would use the smaller versions of this for our lunches and taking food on the run. I like the way the lids, containers and vents all stack and lock together, which the Tupperware Fridgesmart does not. If I need to replace my Fridgesmart, I could be swayed over to this line pretty easily!
The third line is the Lock-Its. I will say I was disappointed in this line because it is very similar to my current line of storage containers. If you have a lot of space to store your containers then I can see purchasing this line. The claim is that if has Locking Tabs to provide an extra seal. I would hope that the other lines have a strong enough seal that I don’t need an other set just for a stronger seal, so in my opinion, I would skip this line all together! (No offense Rubbermaid, you know I love you!)
The forth line is the Premier. This is the top of the line so to speak. The lids are partially clear so you can see what you have inside from up above. The line is stain resistant and resists odors, which is huge when you have stored chili in a container, and then you want to store leftover pancakes in it next. Chili flavored pancakes do not go over well in my house! Also, it is pretty gross to see the red stain from sauces after you have washed the container! Makes you not want to use them again, which is very wasteful. This is my favorite line by far for meeting my needs and wants. For long term storage, and storage of leftovers that stain and

When I feel the need (and have it in the budget) I will add to my new collection of Rubbermaid. I would think a few more of each, with the exception of the Lock-it, would make me a happy camper!

I know, who cares that much about food storage containers, but really we all use them and use them often! Not only do these storage containers work for food, but they are valuable in many other areas of the home, like in the garage, the bathroom, and the office. Because they stack and are see through, these are a great investment for organizing your home!

For more information regarding these products visit:

These products are available for sale on http://www.rubbermaid.com/. Use coupon code 0902 to save 10%!
Filed Under: Kitchen Organizing, Organizing Products, Organizing Tips

Back to School Ideas Continued…

August 19, 2008 By gailagray Leave a Comment

As I have discussed in the last two entries, back to school means preparation.  Being prepared is not just about buying school supplies, clothes and backpacks.  Preparing the home and family for back to school will assure a smooth transition from vacations, beach days and pool parties to backpacks, homework and schedules.  I have talked about the kitchen (the heart of the home), the laundry (the lungs), and today I will discuss the brain of the home.  The brain is where you keep your family’s communications, schedules and important daily documents. 

For many, keeping track of multiple schedules is a full time job.  Knowing who needs to be where can be nerve wracking.  Also, knowing what your kids homework assignments and projects are and when they are due can be mentally exhausting.  A calendar is a must to make sure the family knows what is going on.  Having everything on one calendar can help you plan meals and activities for each week.  For example, if your son has a paper due on Friday, you may say no when he asks to hang out with his friends on Thursday after-school.   

There are many different types of calendars available for family use.  If you are on-line and like e-mail reminders, there are many available options.  Microsoft Outlook is great for calendar, e-mail and contact information all rolled into one location.  Another on-line product that is available is Blis- which stands for Best Life Information Systems.  This incorporates your calendar (compatible with Outlook) and also holds your household information like the plumber’s phone number and your children’s medical information.    Visit www.myblis.com

If you are using a paper calendar, make sure there is enough room for multiple entries.  Try using a different colored pen for each family member.  This system works well with a large wall calendar, including the write-on/wipe-off or black-board versions.  Have your family get in the habit of inputting their activities on the family calendar.

Homework begins as early as preschool for some.  To make sure you are not scrambling before due dates, having a homework zone is beneficial.  For young children who require assistance, keep supplies near the area you will be working with the child.  For most that is the kitchen counter or table.  Keep a bucket of supplies that they will need to accomplish their homework.  Typically they will need scissors, glue, ruler, pencils, and crayons/markers/colored pencils.  A container with a lid is helpful for keeping the supplies together.  Once your children have completed their homework, have the children put their homework directly into their backpack.  It will be hard to remember during the morning rush to grab the homework – one less thing to have to deal with. 

For older children who will need to focus to study for tests and write papers, a desk with their needed supplies can be ideal.  Give them a quiet place for working.  Most tweens and teens like music and TV blaring while they are trying to study.  Multi-tasking in this manner may not be the best for focusing.  Try not to encourage this, and let them know the more they focus the faster they will finish. 

For projects, an accordion file or stack file may help them organize their research.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep a supply of printer ink/toner, pens, pencils, and other supplies they may need to get their homework done.  If they have supplies in your office, but they do their homework in their room, getting up to find what they need will only give reason to procrastinate. 

Having a landing zone is key to making mornings run smoothly.  Have a place to hang backpacks by the door that the kids come and go from.  Have the kids get in the habit of always putting their backpack away when they come in the door and cleaning out the backpack immediately.  Have a place where the kids put important papers, like permission slips and fundraising forms, whether it is in your office, or a specific place in the kitchen.  Have them put their homework immediately where they will do their homework.  Try and make sure to have them alert you of any projects that have been assigned, so that information can go on the calendar.  Discuss with them how they will break those projects down. 

Having your children get organized will help prepare them to succeed in school.  Make sure you work towards their organizing strategies.  Their way of organizing may not be your way.  Talk with them to see what strategies they feel work best for them.  Practice what you preach.  If you are asking them to be organized and follow new rules and habits, make sure you enforce them.  Also, set a good example by getting yourself organized.  There is nothing like a child saying “why do I have to do it if you don’t?” and they actually have a valid point!

Stay tuned for next weeks entry for back to school.  We will finish with garage ideas for keeping the kids gear in check for after-school sports. 

For additional tips on Back to School preparation, check out my Web Site Tips page and

sign up for my Free Monthly E-Newsletter at:

www.afreshstartorganing.net

Filed Under: Children and Family, Kitchen Organizing, Manage My Time, Office Organizing, Organizing Tips Tagged With: Back to School, CA, Children, Family, Kids, Life, Organizing Children, professional organizer, Professional Organizing, Professional organizing in Orange County, Residential Professional Organizing

Creating a fresh start for Back to School

August 3, 2008 By gailagray Leave a Comment

The alarm goes off at 6:30 am.  You have an hour to get the kids up, dressed, breakfast made, lunches packed, and backpacks ready.  That is just for the kids.  You have to either be dressed for work, or the gym, or whatever your day entails.  There are breakfast dishes, the laundry, the dog needs a walk and to be fed, and your kids are fighting over who’s turn it is to take the trash out.  The yelling escalates as you feel the tension increasing.  The kids want to watch TV and are fighting over which cartoon they are going to watch.  Your youngest is crying because she wanted to wear her favorite t-shirt (again) and it is not clean.  Your oldest child remembers that he didn’t do his homework assignment for math and he panics. If he doesn’t turn it in, he will miss recess.  Panic and mayhem seem to be the start of your day.

Does this sound familiar?   Maybe even part of this scenario hits home.  The Mad Morning Rush seems to be the norm in most households.  You vow to make your mornings less stressful, but the next morning is a repeat of the last.  No-one enjoys starting the day off with stress, panic, yelling and crying.  In the next few weeks, I will be posting on ways that will save you time, money and energy to end those crazy mornings (and evenings for that matter).  Organizing your home will help you enjoy a fresh start every day!

This week we are going to focus on the kitchen.  Kitchens used to be the heart of the home.  These days it seems as if families don’t eat together very often.  Between dashing between sports practices, meetings, tutoring, and other after school activities, kids afternoons keep parents on the go.  The car is more often where people eat together than the kitchen table.  Making breakfast, lunch and dinner at home becomes a chore when done in a hurry.  Preparation is key to making meals easier, faster and healthier.  Good products are helpful in keeping food last longer and will save time in the busy day so you can make healthy choices.

Here are some tips for making the kitchen the heart of the home again:

Breakfast:

  • Set out the night before what your family will eat (that isn’t perishable).  Have the kids set the table with the items that you will need, such as bowls for cereal or fruit, glasses for juice, plates for toast, etc.  Set out the utensils that they will need, too.  This can be done as soon as you clear the table from dinner.  This will take no more than five minutes, but will save you in the morning rush.
  • Have the children help clean up the breakfast dishes immediately.  Dishes loaded in the dishwasher, trash in the trash can and table wiped off.  Again, this will not take long, but this will make sure the table is ready for the next meal.

Lunches:

  • To save time and money, making lunches and snacks (for after-school practices) the night before is key.  For food that doesn’t keep well for too long, lay out anything you will need to finish preparations for them in the morning, such as slicing apples or making sandwiches.  This will ensure your kids (and you) can have healthy food throughout the day.  This will keep their energy up for their busy days.
  • Have your children help in the preparation.  Have them pick their food choices.  Set limits, such as “pick either Wheat Thins or Gold Fish” or “do you want grapes or apples?”.  These will help make the decisions go quickly and will help guide them in making good choices.  Have the kids put the food into containers, such as Tupperware or Ziplock baggies and into their lunch boxes.  You will be surprised that they will not put in as much food as you would.  This will save you money as they won’t be throwing away uneaten food.
  • When your child comes home from school, have them unpack their lunch boxes so they will be ready for the next day.  Getting into this habit will allow a smooth flow for the next day.

Dinner:

  • Before grocery shopping, look at the calendar to see what days will be better to actually cook and which will be better for leftovers or quick fix meals.  Plan enough food to be kept for the week.  Check to make sure you have all the ingredients necessary to actually plan the meal, so you don’t have to run back out to the store or that you wind up ordering take out instead.  Also, when you do cook, double the meal, so you can freeze half for nights that you don’t have time to cook.  This will ensure your family is getting a healthy meal even when you don’t have time to cook it.
  • Get the family involved.  Give out chores to the kids to make sure you are not doing all the work yourself.  You will not be able to sit and enoy the meal if you are the one getting up to get things that should have been set out before the meal began.  Have one child set the table, one child ask for drink orders, and one child set out any condiments that you will need for the meal.  Do this with clean up, too.  Have one child clear the table, one child load the dishwasher and one child put the condiments away.  Having the family get involved in the meal preparation and clean up will teach them valuable skills for when they live on their own.

Products That Help:

Refrigerator:

Keep fruits and veggies longer with Tupperware’s Fridge-Smart line.  Clean the produce first, then place it in the containers.  The containers have vent holes to keep the food fresh.  There is a list on the side of the containers that tell you how many vent holes to open for the type of produce you are storing.  These products keep produce lasting longer and tasting better.  Another benefit is you can stack the containers on the shelves in the fridge to save space!

Having your fruits and veggies last longer will save you money.  Having them washed and ready to eat will save time and also allow you to make good choices when you are in a hurry.  Seeing into the containers will ensure when you are making your list for the store, you won’t purchase duplicates or to see if you are almost out.

Pantry:

Keep your snacks visible and fresh longer and your pantry organized with clear containers like Snapware.  These come in different sizes and are easy to open and close.  Also, you are able to see when you are running low on a particular snack, so you can quickly scan the pantry before your grocery run and get it on the list.  You won’t buy duplicates as you guess whether or not that box of crackers is half full.  Your children will be able to quickly grab what they want to add to their lunch.  Even items like raisins, nut, and candy can be kept in these containers.  Products like these will save you money as the food lasts longer.  Chips and crackers don’t break and crumble because they are protected in the container. Fruit Snacks and Fruit Roll Ups are great in these containers too.  Not for the freshness (who knows how long these could last!), but to see how much you have left, and to keep boxes from getting lost in the pantry.

When you come home from the store, unpack items and place in baskets so they are quick to grab.  Items like 100 Calorie packs of food, individual apple sauce, energy bars, and snack size chips and crackers are perfect for baskets.  Being able to grab and go will help the kids get items for their lunches, or if they need a snack they can get it themselves!

Finding ways to help make your meal preparation easy and quick will ensure you send your kids off to school well fed.  By preparing for the next day each night will help make sure you don’t have crazy mornings and let you send your kids off to school with a kiss and a smile!  Stay tuned for next weeks post on Laundry Tips to help you have a fresh start for Back to School!

For additional tips on Back to School preparation, check out my Web Site Tips page and

sign up for my Free Monthly E-Newsletter at:

www.afreshstartorganing.net

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Filed Under: Children and Family, Kitchen Organizing, Manage My Time, Organizing Tips, Saving Money