Spring Organizing: Its the Little Things: Junk Drawer

Get started on your spring organizing with the little things! Your junk drawer may be out of control! Spend just 5 minutes getting it back to organized!

Click and see this junk drawer!

How’s your junk drawer? 

Start Your Spring Organizing with Dollar Store Organizing Products

Organizing products can be durable, effective and inexpensive. 

At a recent trip to several dollar stores in our area, here is what I found.  Some of these same items are available at Target, WalMart and the Container Store, but cost only a $1 here!

  • Set of 3 small white cubes. Use these in your vanity for makeup or hair products or in your desk for clips and post-it notes.
  • Sterilite DVD or CD holder. Use these for media containment, one for each type of media.
  • CD notebook for your car.  Or at home and eliminate case chaos.
  • Set of 3 toiletry bottles for travel.  Get your travel bag together and keep it organized with these bottles.
  • Cord or holiday light holder to wind your cords around.  Nothing worse what cords tangled and in a knot.
  • Plate holder for your dishes. Double stack and add extra storage in your kitchen.
  • Ice cube trays for jewelry or office supplies.  Easy way to get access to accessories.
  • Cupcake carrier.  And you know, I am bonkers for cupcakes!

Visit your local dollar store and share what did you find!

Reflections of a Chief Junker

 

I am thrilled to have my friend Tiffany Eckhardt share some reflections as owner of Flown the Coop.  What you think of her perspective on her stuff?

Everything in my home has a price tag.  Seriously, there is a tag on just about everything.  

 I once asked my Flown The Coop Facebook friends if keeping inventory tags on treasures at home was normal.  I was feeling a bit awkward when visitors came to my home until friends in the industry confirmed that I was not alone.

 As chief junker at Flown The Coop, I have the privilege of buying and selling unique pieces of furniture, reclaimed industrial pieces for home use and kitschy vintage items.   

I love acquiring and enjoying my treasures for a time, then setting them free to be enjoyed by another family.  For example, I recently decided to let go of a huge letter E that served as a unique focal point in our living room.  The letter came from a discarded Office Depot sign and sat behind our couch on a table as a conversation piece.  Honestly, as much as I loved it, I took just as much pleasure in knowing the gentleman who bought the E was thrilled with his new treasure.  

I try not to get attached to my treasures, except priceless family heirlooms or treasures that I bought traveling with my husband.  I’ve learned that I can eventually find replacements for pieces that I let go.  For that reason, I rarely take my Flown The Coop inventory tags off pieces I use in my home.  Eventually the piece will return to inventory and be replaced by another equally unique treasure.  

 I imagine keeping the tags on furniture or pieces of art would be embarrassing for most people.  I don’t encourage it.  What I am proposing is to keep an open mind about items that create clutter.  Letting go of items in your home that no longer serve a purpose can be freeing and can make room for a new decor.  I guarantee someone will consider your junk as treasure.  

 Enjoy your treasures, but when it’s time feel free to let them go!  

Tiffany Eckhardt and her family recently moved from Ohio to their new home in the Houston Heights.  She is chief junker at Flown The Coop, a business that reclaims and repurpose furniture, industrial pieces and kitschy vintage items.  You can find Flown The Coop at Chippendale Eastlake Antiques and at Urban Market Houston, Warrenton Antique Week and the Dallas Market.  Follow her flight pattern on her Facebook page.  Learn more about Tiffany at http://www.chippendaleon19th.com/  and http://2flownthecoop.com/

Work at Home: Transitioning your stuff

Working at home requires a transition between spaces. Bringing home papers and more can be the hardest part of this transition.

  • Use a designated slot for each type of paper you bring home.  Slots can be created with accordion files, expanding pocket files, or clear acrylic files.  Label each with the name of that category.  In this way you will always know what you have, where it goes, and where to place it.
  • Tie up your cords and use ziploc bags to keep them easily stored in  your briefcase.  Or duplicate your cords at each location.  Be sure you are never without a way to connect.
  • Wheels are the answer to heavy loads! A wheeled business case can make your efforts easier.
  • Create your own closing ceremony 15 minutes before quitting time.  Giving yourself time to transition and pack  up means that nothing will get lost or overlooked. 

Image courtesy of Office Candy (file tote).

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EXCLUSIVE

Black Faux Leather File Tote

Organizing Solutions for Your Struggling Student

Check out my blog post at Organize to Revitalize ~

http://dallisonlee.com/blog/2013/03/04/3-simple-organizing-solutions-for-your-struggling-student/

Work at Home: Apps and More

  Work at Home

Our world is filled with organizing automation and technology.  Work at home requires effectiveness and efficiency. These apps can help you make a difference.

Below are a few of my favorite apps for making life easier and more organized.

Evernote~ Use this app to consolidate ideas, makes notes to remember things like books or websites, and help keep infomation easy to access.

CardStar~ Use this app to keep up with all those store loyalty cards.

MomMaps~ Families want to know places to go and activities to do and this app finds them for you.

OurGroceries~ The nightmare of grocery shopping made easier with a list that multiple people can access and shop.

ScanBizCards~ This app is a great way to eliminate all those biz cards floating around your house and keeps them in your phone.

Shoeboxed~ This app is an easy way to keep up with receipts, either for your home or office.

Mint.com~ This app and computer accessed program helps you gather data for budgeting, keep a record of what you are spending your money on and even suggests improvements.

Aboutone.com~Consolidate your calendar, contacts, health information and home inventory in one spot!

List type apps including Ziplist, Wunderlist, Things, Toodledo.  No need for a paper list to lose! These apps help you stay up on what you need to do, buy, and more!

What apps are your favorites?