Tag Archives: organization

Easy Gift Idea: Silver-Rimmed Bowls

This is a super-simple diy that makes for a very easy gift idea. All you need is a small ceramic bowl, a paintbrush, and any paint of your choosing. I prefer metallics for this project, because it gives the look of a gilt edge and adds just a little bit of bling. Who doesn’t need a bit of bling?

Just paint the inside and/or outside edge of your bowl, let dry, and voila! A delightful little way to collect rings, earrings, perfume vials, lip glosses and balms, hair accessories, bracelets, office supplies, or any number of other small, loose items. I filled this one with hair bands to give to my friend for her birthday. I also use one to corral perfume and lip balm on my dresser.

Sharing with: Creative Spark

Weekly Wishlist: Planners & Organizers

So I realize that 2013 is already underway by a few weeks, but there’s no time like the present to start getting organized!

As much as I love how my iPhone and Macbook talk to each other, I still have to have paper and a pen near me at all times. I’m constantly jotting notes on craft ideas or blog posts, making lists, and writing reminders to myself.

Chalkboard-style typography? Check. Uplifting, optimistic message? Check. The perfect way to start off a new year? Absolutely! via Girl In Gear Studio on Etsy.

These two options by Filofax are perfectly sized to fit into a tote, purse or briefcase, and stylish to boot! Finsbury personal organizer / Domino personal organizer

If you’re more of a notepad person, jot down your thoughts on this snazzy number by Anthropologie. There are plenty of lines to accomodate a to-do list or a shopping list, plus a quirky zebra character to keep you on task.

How do you stay organized? Are you a pen-and-paper person or a digital dandy?

Things I’m Putting Off, But Desperately Need To Do

1. Reorganize our pantry.

I got off to a good start at the beginning of the year, hauling home a huge amount of totes and bins from Target, but due to other members of the family not paying attention to my system (Tom, I’m looking at you), it demands a re-do. Our pantry has also become a bit of a catch-all. I don’t there’s anything too unrelated to kitchens / dining in there, but now I’m scared to look.

2. Create a filing system.

Tom and I have had separate filing methods since we got married 5 years ago. He takes care of his, and I take care of mine. And the problems with this are numerous…

– We now have a lot of joint accounts and shared assets, from savings accounts to our mortgage payments.

– We constantly lose W2 forms during tax season because they wind up all over the house.

– I use a pretty simple Banker’s box system; Tom… well, I’m still not really sure what his filing system is. But statements have turned up in some pretty random places around the house, including a drawer of our nightstands.

I have no idea where to start. As soon as I start thinking about this project, I feel completely overwhelmed. I feel like I need to take at least a week of vacation to sort it out and do it properly. Please, oh please, help me find the inspiration, determination and endurance to complete this task!!!

3. Stain the deck

While Tom will probably take the lead on this one, I should probably offer my services. At least to pick out a nice stain color 😉

We’re waiting for the weather to cool down before tackling this one, but then I see college football and Bengals games eating up our weekend afternoons…

4. Seal the driveway

There’s been some debate recently about how important this one is. Do we really need to seal our driveway? I guess it would help it last longer, because the last thing we want to do is pay thousands to have it re-poured in a few years. Thoughts? Any tips on driveway sealing?

What tasks are you putting off? Let’s inspire each other to conquer them!

Tool (Organization) Time

I think the garage is one of the easiest places for clutter to accumulate. We are spoiled by having an extended garage, but this also makes it a magnet for stuff. We piled lots of things in this extra space while we were moving and unpacking, but once we got our things situated, Tom was itching to create a workshop space for his tools.

He’s a pretty handy guy, and wasted no time researching instructions for building a workbench. In one weekend, with a little help from his dad, he built himself a super-sturdy bench! And I mean sturdy! This thing is solid – I can’t budge it an inch, even pushing against it with all my weight! Tom’s tools have made themselves right at home:

Next, we turned our attention to the shovels, rakes, and brooms. We got a ridiculous amount of yard tools for Christmas last year. For some reason, when our families heard we were moving, they all ran out and bought us yard tools! So we really needed a good way to organize them and get them off the floor of the garage. We researched a few different organizing systems online and at a few home improvement stores, but we weren’t impressed with what we found. They either seemed too flimsy to do the job or were outrageously expensive. So Tom tapped into his engineering instincts and came up with his own simple plan – a few 1′ x 3′ ft. boards and a bunch of U-shaped utility hooks. And voila! A simple hanging system for our shovels, rakes, and more!

Our garage could still use some shelving for gardening supplies, but I think things are off to a pretty good start!

Are you struggling with garage clutter? Or have you conquered it with a savvy system?