Day 111: Crap baskets

I think many moms out there can relate to the "reset"-button mode. As in, mommies are constantly resetting each and every nook and cranny in the house... by cleaning up the messes, putting things away, straightening decor and organizing new items! WELL... there are many days that I get a bit tired of putting away the same things over and over again. And I also get burned out on putting away things for the other members of my household... including Rowdy, our dog. (He LOVES to drag out all of his toys!)
SO... I will be implementing crap baskets. That's right -- baskets for all the random crap (not literally) that ends up all over the house!
As mommy (or anyone) collects random odds n' ends throughout the week, like socks on the lampshade, toys under the couch, keys in the planter, etc., etc., just toss these runaways in the crap baskets. Don't worry about putting everything away! That's the basket's owners job!
It's easy, really. Just get some baskets (one for each member of the house), label them (and/or decorate them to your liking) and find a clever, useful place for them. You can store your crap baskets in a laundry room or a mud room. Or, you can place them in a more prominent spot, like by the front door... or on the stairs! Mine will be "living" on the stairs. This way, everyone can see their basket and be sure to put those random items away. (OF course, if the basket gets too full, I might have to implement the trash collector....)



Now, THAT's neat!

Day 110: Pin wrangler

I have been using bobby pins in my shorter hair cut lately, and it's amazing that as many as I have, I can NEVER find one.... or I have to dig around, taking out my neatly stored hairspray bottles, brushes, clips, etc., etc., to get to the VERY bottom corners of the drawer!

WELL... I saw a very clever idea that would work in a drawer or on the inside of a cabinet door or medicine cabinet. MAGNETIC STRIPS!

That's right, just apply a magnetic strip (using the peel-away adhesive on the back), and... get those dern bobby pins in line!


You can also use the magnetic strip to wrangle nail clippers, tweasers or other lightweight metallic odds n' ends that keep escaping to the depths of your bathroom drawers!


Now, THAT's neat!