Day 124: Overpower the power cords

Country Living magazine posted a super-neat idea for wrangling up all those tangly, high-tech charging cords from cell phones, MP3 players, PDAs, cameras, etc.... while repurposing a low-tech shoe box!  And I just had to share this with all of you!  (And now I am on a hunt for extra-large eyelits... and you will soon see why!)

Just so you know, I am kind of torn when it comes to shoe boxes.  On one hand, they are nice places for shoes to go when they are not on someone's feet, but shoe boxes can take up a lot of room, and, let's face it, how often are the people in your home putting shoes back in their shoe boxes after or between uses!?!?   That's why shoe boxes most often end up in the recycling bin at our house, unless my daughter has some creative craft project in mind or we need to make a diorama! :)

At any rate, we all know how much more "plugged in" we all are nowadays. And if you don't have a handy gadget like this for multiple USB ports and regular plugs, then those cords can easily become a bit of a nightmare!

Where do you plug them in?  How do you store them?  How do you keep them from taking over a kitchen counter, nightstand or desk?  Well, that little, white Belkin hub in the outlet in our kitchen certainly helps with the first question.  But here are steps to create an awesome (and lovely) cord storage/organizer and tackle those other important questions!

STEP 1: Find and empty out a clean, sturdy shoebox. Measure and cut wallpaper, heavy-duty wrapping paper, scrapbook paper or decorative fabric to the dimensions, wrapping the top and bottom pieces separately. Secure the material or paper with spray adhesive. (You can also use Mod Podge or other glues, but spray adhesive is AWESOME for projects like this!)

STEP 2: On one side of the box, measure and mark placements for four, evenly spaced eyelet holes. Make the first hole about 3 inches in from the box's edge. Cut eyelet holes with an X-Acto knife. Repeat on the other side, aligning the holes so the cords can cross through the box.

STEP 3: Purchase an extra-large eyelet kit from a hardware store, and fit the pieces using the manufacturer's directions as a guide.

STEP 4: Plug in your cords, feed the wires through both sets of holes and close the lid; recharge your gadgets.

{{{{SAFETY TIP: Keep electrical devices such as plugs and power strips outside the shoebox, to avoid risk of heating up or fire}}}} 

Now, go to it!  You have the power to overpower the power cords in your household! ;)

Now, THAT's neat!

Day 123: I'm Dreaming of a Custom Closet...

I think that most of us neat freaks (or nor-so-neat freaks) can admit that we secretly (or not-so-secretly) dream of a place for everything... and everything in its place... and even a color-coded label for everything, too!   And one thing that I've always dreamed of is an organized and beautiful bedroom closet.  Ok, actually I've dreamed of all my closet spaces, storage areas and the garage being organized and beautiful.  But until I strike it rich - in the area of money AND time - I guess I can just keep collecting ideas for what my perfect storage spaces would entail!

Of course, I've already got some things working in my favor in my bedroom closet.  As y'all know, I love boxes and baskets for gathering, categorizing, sorting AND decorating items.  These work perfectly - even in the smallest spaces - for managing everything from shoes and socks to scarves and jewelry.  I also store all my clothes items with "like" items.  For instance, t-shirts all go together, followed by sleveless shirts and other dress shirts on one bar.  Below, all my jeans, dress pants and capris hang next to long-sleeve dress shirts and sweaters.  (And, no, I don't color code!)

But even with a plan in place, I do find myself limited by my closet's overall design... or lack thereof!  That's why I drool at photos like THIS, showing a perfectly ordered and lovely space from closet organizers like California Closets!

(Photo courtesy of California Closets.)
Or THIS.... which, of course, might be about the size of my entire bedroom!  Ha-ha!

(Photo courtesy of California Closets.)
But even smaller spaces (like those "reach-in" closets) can be functional and beautiful.  For example, I would absolutely LOVE to have a guest bedroom closet like THIS that was worthy of being displayed - sans doors! Amazing!

(Photo courtesy of California Closets.)
If you want to get started on the closet of your choice and make it the closet of your dreams, incorporate those little organizational pieces, like shoe storage and hanging "shelves," and make your closet make sense for you.  If color coding is your thing, then by all means - arrange by hue!  Just be sure to purge unused or unwanted items along the way (donation boxes are ready and waiting!). OR... you can go for the gusto, and get a custom-designed closet!  Yep.  A professional closet designer from California Closets can help you see your storage nightmares as hidden potential!  Then perhaps YOUR closet photo will be the next to go in my growing file of storage solution designs and ideas!

Now, THAT's neat!




NOTE: This is a sponsored post.  But all thoughts and opinions are the author's!

Day 120: Chalk labels strike again

Y'all know that I LOVE using chalk panels, labels and charts for the kitchen and in the pantry. (You can see those posts HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE!) But there are just so many uses for Uppercase Living's awesome chalk (or dry erase) panels.

Here is a very neat idea for garage storage! Just get some galvanized buckets, slap on a chalk label, and write whatever it is that's supposed to go in that pail! You can store your labeled containers on a shelf or against a wall. You can also use colorful buckets, plastic bins or crates and have fun with stacking, sorting and color coding.



You can find lots of great chalk and dry erase options on my Uppercase Living website. But THIS is one of my favorite new sets. This awesome "tags and tidbits" set comes with all sizes and shapes, so you can have lots of fun using these in lots of fun spaces!




Now, THAT's neat!

Day 118: Why didn't I think of that?

I'll tell you why I didn't think of that.... I don't like oatmeal.



Yep. It's a pretty well-known fact around my family that I do NOT like oatmeal. At all. Ever. No matter where it comes from or how it's prepared. (But that's another story for another day!) That's why I would have NEVER thought of re-purposing an oatmeal container to store ribbon! AWESOME idea!

Right now, my ribbon is kind of a haphazard mishmash of colorful insanity... tucked away in a pretty Stampin' Up bag on a nice, neat craft self! (Notice, I am not going to show you INSIDE the bag, as it would make most of us neat freaks cringe in horror!)


But a much better, neater and more efficient idea, of course, is to contain that ribbon madness, somehow. And all you need to do is grab an empty oatmeal container (in my case, I may have to just dump out the oatmeal to empty the container... just kidding! I DO use oatmeal to bake cookies!). Cut a fairly large hole in the side (large enough to see your ribbon spools!), and then Mod Podge on some pretty, patterned scrap paper to cover the container.



Then slip your ribbon spools inside so you can easily pull lengths out through the opening! Make as many as you need for optimum storage!



Now, THAT's neat!

Day 113: The Fridge File

It seems that I am always picking up random scraps and pieces of paper, even though I do my best to sort mail, bills and other important what-nots, not to mention all of the lovely little paperclips, toys, markers and other random items that wind up on the kitchen counters or in the centerpiece on the island. (Don't you LOVE these space-alien shrinky dinks? It's a new decor MUST!)

I guess I still have yet to find the perfect catch-all spot.... until today! So, if you feel a little crafty (just a teensy bit, I promise!), then get out some scissors, packing tape and pretty paper. This is an AMAZING idea from a fellow blogger (spotted on Pinterest). It really is amazing how you can turn something so plain, simple and everyday into something beautiful, fun and useful!

THE do-it-yourself, recycled-cereal-box FRIDGE FILE:
1. Select an empty cereal box of your choice. (Iain helped us "empty" this one by eating the rest of the cereal!)


2. Cut off the top, and shape the box so that the front is a little smaller than the back.

3. Secure all edges with sturdy packing tape. (You don't want all those odds n' ends escaping their holder and crashing to the floor!)


4. Wrap the box neatly like a package, using your choice of wrapping paper or scrapbook paper. I like scrapbook paper, since it's sturdier! (You can use a coordinating pattern or color on the inside, or do it all the same! I also decided to add some ribbon and a little "happiness always" stamp with a metal plaque on the front; I also distressed the paper to give it that cool, antique look!)


5. Hang your new "fridge file" with some coordinating, magnetic clips!
(I am showing the blogger's version, too, for some added inspiration! And... BTW, yes, I plan to go out and get some "coordinating" clip magnets ASAP... instead of using SpongeBob!)

6. ENJOY your handy, new storage - for mail, school papers, coupons, random tidbits or whatever your heart's desire!



Now, THAT's neat!

Day 112: Little black dress?

You know how you got that adorable, little, bird-shaped ceramic dish to sit on the bed-side table and help keep your jewelry nice and tidy? How's that working? ;) If you're like me, anything small and cute will just be quickly overwhelmed by either the volume and/or the size of jewelry items that are fighting for elbow room! SO.... I say, ditch the impractical, cutesy stuff, and sort your bling with the simply irresistible "Little Black Dress" hanging jewelry organizer by Umbra.



How cute is THIS!?!?! The smart and stylish black "dress" is two-sided, with 39 clear pockets on one side and 24 hook-and-loop tabs on the other. SO handy! AND... it fits nice and neat in your closet, meaning you'll never have to look at all that clutter on your nightstand again (at least not jewelry clutter!).


Now, THAT's neat!

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 109: I Think I'm in love....

I don't personally have any Elfa designs or components in my home. (You can get it at the Container Store, which, unfortunately is nowhere near me!) But, every time I see a photo of this ingenious organizational tool for closets, pantries, garages, offices, playrooms - you name it - I just start to drool!

Here are just some photo inspiration for you!
1. What an amazing craft room! I love the "mesh" drawers; everything is put away, but there is still visibility!


2. This is a great look for a closet, but this organizational look works beautifully for a den/TV room! Everything is beautifully coordinated and neat!


3. What a naturally beautiful office! And I love how the organization uses the available space above the desk. If you can't go out, go up!

4. Wow. This closet is amazingly tidy! It makes me seriously think about digging through my own closet to purge some more unwanted items, but it also makes me want to throw a little color and maybe some patterns into this very neutral clothing arrangement! ;)



Now, THAT's neat!

Day 108: Oh, Laundry Room of BLISS!

Oh, my... I recently started another direct-sales business with Thirty-One Gifts because I am obsessed with totes and bags and bins and baskets and boxes... you get the idea! ;) But I was not quite clever enough to come up with THIS: the ultimate in organized laundry rooms.



Can I get a "WOW!"? I am in love with all the embroidered fabric bins! And I am envisioning them throughout my home! ;) How handy and LOVELY! This would also work well in closets, playrooms, bathrooms... and vehicles!


Now, THAT's neat!

Day 105: The Beauty of Labels

This is not my pantry.... And I am a little jealous! :)


This is the very organized pantry of Lori M., a new acquaintance of mine. And while I do use the Tupperware containers and organize everything as neatly as possible (similar items together and labels out!), I do not have the luxury of putting everything in a container. (I have a LOT more items in my pantry!) And I do not have a label on everything, either. But isn't this a wonderful idea!?!?

This is kind of like my dream pantry.

WHY?
1. I love how just about everything matches. It really is a pretty pantry!!!! But if you don't have every Tupperware container ever made (ha-ha!), then use what you DO have! All sizes and shapes are welcome!

2. I love using containers for just about all the food in the pantry. It's great to have items like flour and baking mix in air-tight containers. It looks good, stacks well... AND it will stay fresh much longer. (It's also more difficult to spill!)

3. I love the labels. I really think I would label everything, if I could! It looks SO neat, and it's so very functional! You can print out labels or just write on the traditional, sticky, office kinds that you can pick up almost anywhere. (Color coding might even come in handy here....) OR, you can do what Lori did in her pantry: cut up a piece of Uppercase Living's chalkboard vinyl into various sizes. (This method won't leave you with sticky residue if you decide to remove the labels.) Then, apply the custom sizes to your containers, and write right on them! Of course, my handwriting isn't as great as my friend's. BUT, this should spark all of our imaginations!

Lori has also given us an EXTRA NEAT tip: write directions, recipes or notes on the containers! This is great for reminding yourself how to make pancakes or biscuits or how long to boil your noodles!




Now, THAT's neat!

Day 104: Pretty Neat Soap

I have no problem with keeping some "not-so-beautiful" things out in plain view, if they are things that I use daily. I mean, it is a bit impractical to store ALL our everyday items out of sight.

Of course, a bottle of dish-washing liquid isn't all that attractive....


But who says you CAN'T have a nicer way to use and display these plain, dull things?!?

As y'all know, I love using baskets and decorative boxes to stow away items that are useful but may not be too attractive. Neither works very well with liquid items, though! ;) SO, here's a GREAT way to beautify a simple, useful cleaning product.


I bought this lovely glass bottle at Hobby Lobby and just squeezed the dish liquid right in! Now, it's sitting in the exact same spot... but it looks a whole lot better!


Now, THAT's neat!

Day 103: Paper Police

I knew I wasn't finished with my new shelves in the room of "S.I.N." .... As I looked at the big pile of card stock just sitting there, I knew I had to do something better to organize everything -- in a neat, useful way!

So, I bought this handy paper organizer.


It's made especially for this purpose -- for crafty folks with too much paper, that is. I bought the one that actually holds 12x12 card stock, and it works great to color coordinate everything and store it in a MUCH-easier-to-use fashion! It looks neat, too! :)


Now, THAT's neat!

Day 101: The Room of S.I.N.

As a neat freak who loves neatness and who spends most of my "free" moments cleaning, straightening and organizing, it's very difficult for me to admit this. BUT, I'm going to choose to confide in y'all: I have a room of S.I.N.

That's right. A room of S.I.N! And I bet you, too, have somewhere in your home where S.I.N. takes place... on a daily basis! ;)

What I am talking about here could be considered a dirty, little secret, but it's probably not as bad as you might be thinking! The S.I.N. I'm referring to is that room, drawer, cabinet, closet or ANY place you use to "Stash It Now!"

Whatever and wherever that is in your home... that is YOUR place of S.I.N! :) When things don't quite go anywhere else in the house, you stash it there. When company is coming over unexpectedly, this is your go-to place (AKA "dumping grounds") for the mail, homework, coats, shoes and toys that have mysteriously taken up residence all over the house. This is where random odds and ends and other junky bits and pieces end up when they just don't have a spot of their own, when you don't have time to put them in the correct place... OR, when you just don't really know what in the world to do with it!

And, believe it or not, this neat freak uses our laundry room for all of our S.I.N. stuff! And for the longest time (perhaps 3 years or so?!?!) the laundry room has been the bane of my existence, with its stacks of boxes and non-matching piles of everything, everywhere!

Don't believe it?!?! Well, here is photo proof:


In addition to the clothing (that has every right to be in there), you can also find mailing boxes, bags, crafting tools, photo albums, business supplies, catalogs... and things that would go perfectly (and preferably) in an office or in a "craft room," if we had those!

Of course, this is not a TERRIBLE, unusable space. And I have made many attempts to corral some of this stuff. As the pictures show, there are some baskets and bins and even a little dresser in there! And there is an overflowing -- but still handy -- laundry caddy (which currently serves as my baby boy's "closet," since it's SO much easier to get his clothes from the laundry room than to go upstairs to his room!) It just wasn't working. And it was making me crazy. So my wonderful, handy hubby put up some simple, floor to ceiling shelving for me all along the small wall right by the door!

Here is the NEW, improved space!


The washer and dryer stayed put, obviously, but we moved everything around a bit, and I was able to put items in more logical places -- and get them out of the middle of the floor!

Granted, it's not perfect. My son's clothes are still taking up the caddy. I will probably reorganize the shelves and move things around here and there. And I will still need an emergency "S.I.N." space at times. But, that will probably end up being a cabinet. (And I will ONLY use it for the temporary stashing of items!)

For now, I'm quite happy to be able to put things in their place. And I'm very pleased that I can actually open the laundry room door without making excuses... or cringing in disgust -- even when company is around! ;)


Now, THAT's neat!

Day 80: My CUPS Runneth Over

Plastic cups.

They migrate... frequently.
They multiply... often.
And they will randomly launch themselves at unsuspecting beverage seekers from their precarious positions in the kitchen cabinets!

If your plastic cups are taking up way too much real estate all over your kitchen (perhaps even invading the pantry!?!?), you might want to herd them up and give them a new home. Together. Where they will cause much less damage and frustration!

Although these cups aren't pretty (I mean, face it, we've collected these cheapies and freebies from decades of yard sales, birthday parties, concerts and ball games), they do deserve some attention. So summon your organizing prowess, and clear a cabinet just for the cups. Swallow your pride, and just stack 'em up by size.


Now, I've let some coffee mugs take up residence here, along with a few water bottles, but this cabinet is probably 83% plastic cups. Every once in a while, they'll start to form a rebellion and try to wobble and lean their way off the edge of the shelf in order to hit someone in the head or bounce all over the floor. But, most days, the cups stay pretty neat and organized. I haven't found a stray in the dog food for a while. And the cup count has remained pretty steady.


Now, THAT's neat!

Day 79: The Pyrex Complex

Ok... back to those kitchen cabinets that we started talking about the other day...

As a neat freak, y'all know that I love to keep "like" things or families of items together. It just makes sense to me. And it makes it SO much easier to store, locate and use said items.

Well, the same can work in the kitchen, and that's why I keep all my glass cooking stuffs (AKA Pyrex) in the same cabinet!

It doesn't look all that impressive. And, frankly, it can get rather heavy to wriggle out what I need. But, until I can figure out how to add more shelves or create some other clever storage rack, this is how it is! ;)


You can see that bowls (on the bottom) are stacked in bigger bowls. And squares/rectangles are stacked in bigger squares/rectangles (on the middle shelf). I left the top shelf for a few of the "serving pieces" (AKA glass bakeware with pretty patterns on them!) since I don't fish them out quite as often as the other pieces. As well, my beloved Pampered Chef batter bowl has a spot of its own up there... which is easy for me, since I'm 6-feet tall! (If you are not quite as, uh.... blessed with high altitude, you might want to try stacking/storing your most-used items at a lower, more convenient, level!)

Neat Freak Cheat Sheet: I lined each shelf with some rubbery, non-skid stuff so the glass has a cushier landing!


Now, THAT's neat!

Day 74: Yes you CAN!

When I was in elementary school and junior high, we had to sell stuff from catalogs of 100's of random things to raise money for our choir, band, sports teams, etc., etc. One of those catalogs came out at Christmastime, and I distinctly remember ordering silver snowflake wrapping paper, chocolate caramel apple candies... and a soda can holder.

It's such a simple little device, but it truly can save time... space... and frustration, if you enjoy canned drinks! Just roll a whole case (or 12 cans, total) of your aluminum-encased beverages into the holder...

...and place the whole thing in your fridge! The cans should just roll right down to the bottom as you need them!



Now, THAT's neat!

Day 73: When in doubt... HIDE the clutter!

As in most households these days, we have a ton of remote controls, game controllers and other electronic gadgets that go with our game consoles, TV, Blu-ray player, etc., etc. And I just HATE when these items are scattered all over the coffee table... on the floor... on the couch... and IN the couch, buried under blankets or pillows or cushions.

So, most of the controllers are relegated to the drawer in the coffee table. Lined up. Side by side. Easy enough, right?!?! BUT... the other stuff (i.e. Wii remotes, game "guns" and other random zappers and such) are also nearby.... but cleverly hidden.


That's right! Here in plain sight lie a tangled mess of doo-dads! Where?!?! Why, in the decorative chest on the table. Ta-da!


This way, my family is happy because they don't have to go too far to get their stuff... and I am happy because I can just close the lid and not see the mess! :)


Now, THAT's neat!

Day 69: For the Love of Books (PART 1)

I have a lot of books. And by "a lot," I mean, way more books than I care to count right now!

I have some books packed away in boxes and in clear, plastic storage bins in my attic (mostly text books -- from both my student days and my teaching days), but then there are the "other" books... the reference books, the just-for-fun books, the classic books, the silly books, the I'd-read-them-over-and-over books, and the really-big-books-that-I-might-not-ever-read-but-they-look-cool-and-I-keep-them-around-anyway books! ;)

However you look at it, there has to be a place for all these books. And as a neat freak, I MUST have a good place for them. That means a place that LOOKS good and a place that WORKS well! Oh, and consider these two other things: books don't have to be in a specific order (the Dewey decimal system is not mandatory) AND books don't have to be standing up to be displayed.

That being said, I guess there' a bit of an art to storing/displaying THAT many books... all around the office and all around the house. So, I am starting here in my office, to show you what I've done with the books that I believe might be most helpful here (as reference or as inspiration)!

Here on my desk, within arm's reach, I keep dictionaries, reference tools and books that might be of immediate help for grammar conundrums or punctuation puzzlers. I have a few stacked underneath my desk lamp and others in height order right beside it. Cute. And useful!


If you look over my cabinets, you'll see the remainder of my books. Some I have lined up neatly in between my bookends, using the tallest books toward the middle and the smaller ones toward the ends.


And the books on the other side are arranged with some books laying flat and stacked up next to the ones standing up, also in height order. I've also thrown in few odds and ends (storage boxes, a basket with greenery and some plush friends) to finish the look.


Maybe this helps inspire you on how to create a useful and aesthetically pleasing arrangement for your books!

(Come back later to read about neat book arrangements around your home!)



Now, THAT's neat!

Day 62: Potholders ...Useful in More than Just the Kitchen

I recently had to go on a little business trip, and as I was packing, I was reminded that one of the last items I usually end up adding to my suitcase -- before smooshing it closed and zipping it up -- is either my hair dryer or my curling iron... or both! Of course, this usually means that those two things were in use immediately before flying out the door to get from point "A" to point "B," so these items are always HOT... which makes it a bit awkward for packing! This typically results in the frantic blowing off and waving around of said electronic heating gadget... or a quick trip to the refrigerator... or, worse yet, the hanging-out-the-window-on-the-way-to-the-airport method so it's cool enough to stuff in your bag at the last minute!

Enter the potholder.


Yes, the potholder... in just about any size, shape or color. (*Neat freak cheat sheet alert!) This handy, heat-handling, anti-hand-burning kitchen tool is quite useful for packing hot items in your suitcase. Like curling irons, flat irons... or a just-used hairdryer!

Simply slip the not-quite-cool-yet electronic gadget into the potholder, and then you can pack it safely and snuggly without worrying that your suitcase might burst into flames at any moment! ;)

Now, THAT's neat!