Tuesday Tip

Woven washable baskets. Get some!

 Panama Woven Washable Baskets 

This is the first time I have ever published a Tuesday Tip that was on the pricey side. But when I discovered these baskets from Williams-Sonoma Home, I thought it was worth passing along. The baskets look just like wicker, but are made from polypropylene.The retail price is $69.99 (I bought my for $59.95 at the WSH outlet in Leesburg, Virginia) which seems a bit much for just 2 baskets until you consider they can be used over and over and even left outdoors!

If you don't want to wash them by hand, you can put them in the dishwasher!!!

I love real wicker and have 2 pull out baskets for fruit/vegetable storage (with liners) in my kitchen,
but the germaphobe in me loves this more!!!

I can think of dozens of ways to use them, but here's what I did with my pair:

I've told my daughter to put whatever she needs for the pool here.

 My other daughter has one for all her summer items too. Now if she would just put her things away...teenagers!

Photos courtesy of WSH and A&A

Tuesday Tip

Make time to take inventory. I think most people want to be organized. It makes our lives easier and less stressful.  It's a popular topic of conversation every January both in the blogsphere and in life. And, definately one of my favorite topics! 

This is our everyday flatware. The rattan storage tray I've had a long time, the maple one came with my cabinets.

Since I tend stay organized, most of the time, this year I decided my mission would be to take inventory and then come up with a shopping list of what I actually needed. 

This organizer was a purchased a few years ago from Lowes.



Same with this one, just used in a different configuration.
I never understood the concept of the "junk" drawer? If you group like items together, whether it's in a desk drawer or a kitchen drawer and keep only what you use (after you take inventory) then there won't be any junk!


First up was the kitchen. I started by making a list of anything I was lacking (a meat mallet, I broke my wooden one over the holidays) or needed replacing (some of my baking pans have seen better days) as well as find a better solution to corral all my smalls in the butler's pantry. 

These are from the closet organization section at Container Store. It's meant for socks!



I think this one was for lingerie, but it's perfect for freshly laundered and pressed cocktail napkins
 as well as paper hand towels for the power room.

What are smalls you ask? In general terms, it's a group of tiny objects that are necessary for day to day living. In the kitchen area, they're often the pretty little things we need for entertaining, or gadgets that help us with cooking and baking.


One drawer done. 

 It's remarkably satisfying to be able to see and grab what you need and have it look good too!

Tuesday Tip

Make a date with your DELETE button. And don't break it.

While I've been away enjoying the holidays, a little blogging break and some much needed time away from computer, it's time to get the first post of the year done. But, that couldn't happen until I finished my work...on the computer. While I don't make New Year's resolutions, I do make lists. First up on the list for 2012? Clean up my computer files. The pictures, in particular, were out of control! I started with our family Christmas pictures from this year and worked my way back. Way back. Three years worth of vacations, holidays, birthdays, and way too many random shots. You know the kind. The ones you look back on and have no idea what was interesting about anything in the frame?

I took a picture of these birds from a family trip to Orlando in 2010 because I thought they were interesting.
The actual truth?
  I took it because we all thought they were conjoined...until they started to move. Yes, we felt stupid. Delete.

I started with the most recent images. I deleted duplicates and any undesirable shots, then cropped/edited (I don't know how to photoshop, but it's on the list of things I want to try to learn one day) any photos that needed to be cleaned up, and finally dragged what remained into labeled folders and copied each folder onto a disk and labeled it.

Three years of neglect took many hours, over a three day span to clean up.  But it was absolutely worth it to finally complete this task and put an end to worrying about losing cherished images forever. And, the added bonus is that now I won't be wasting time in the future looking for a particular image! The next step will be to print and frame some favorite pictures. It's been awhile since I've changed any family photos and now I'm really looking forward to doing it! Then it's on to tackling all those blog images I've accumulated...

Tuesday Tip

Prepare to make this the year that you finally organize your holiday decorations! Last January, I wrote a post about how I finally found (and completed) a system for packing and storing my holiday decorations.

Some of you left comments and emails indicating this information would be more helpful if the reminder came before Christmas!

I know many of you will be pulling out boxes and bags of ornaments and decorations from your attics, basements and closets, the minute the Thanksgiving dishes are cleared! As you do this, keep 3 things at an arms reach.

• A piece of paper: to list the specific items your current storage system is lacking.
• A box: to put all the decorations you no longer like or use. Pass them to a friend or put the box right into your car for a quick drive to the nearest donation center Monday!
• A trash bag: for anything broken or damaged. 

Once you've done that, working from your list, order the items you need to store what's left! Everything you want to know about how I organized my holiday decorations including where to buy great storage containers can be found here.

Wishing you all joyful results!!!

Tuesday Tip

Get a head start on your holiday meal planning. I have a confession to make. Although, I love the holidays and entertaining, the menu and meal preparation part of it...well let's just say it's my least favorite aspect. I prefer the decorative parts. Making the table look good, coordinating which platter and serving pieces go best with which foods, trimming the tree...that sort of thing.

The goal.

This admission would come as surprise to many of my friends. Try as I may, I am no Martha Stewart. I can't do it all, look flawless (or even decent) and maintain my holiday spirit. What I can do is fake it quite well by exerting a good bit of effort,  planning ahead and taking help when it's offered. Just as long as the help is served on a pretty platter! The other help comes from my double ovens and 6 burner cook top. I worship these two appliances every holiday seasons.

The reality.
I use a notebook with pockets to start collecting possible contenders. Be sure to add
a few pieces of paper for notes as well as a place to start the grocery shopping list for ingredients! 

I've already started combing through holiday recipes for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. I'll rely on favorites, but always feel compelled to try a few new things every year. I pull recipes for every possible scenario from dinners to brunch to impromptu get-togethers. It makes me feel in control, like Martha.


RX for holiday planning. It's important to feel relaxed don't you think?

Extra Tip:  No one enjoys being at a party where the host or hostess appears frazzled or distracted and unable to mingle with their guests. Seriously, stay out of the kitchen as much as possible!

And, be sure to have fun at your own party!


Your family will also enjoy the holiday season more if you're enjoying it with them. It took me many years to get a system down and figure out that if I tackle the holiday "chore" that stresses me out the most, everyone benefits including me!

Pantry Makeover Complete!

This may not be the pantry of my dreams, but after using the space the past 3 weeks, I'm happy with the outcome. I'll continue to fantasize about large walk-in pantry's with storage for food, small appliances, platters, linens, candles etc...but for now those will remain separate cupboards in areas of my kitchen and my small butler's pantry. The original plan was to install wood shelves, but I had second thoughts for two reasons: time and flexibility.

Good thing I didn't take the plunge with wood just yet, because even after carefully measuring everything, I've adjusted the shelves twice to get it working perfectly for my needs.


Testing, testing before the 2 remaining brackets are added. You may notice
they are not evenly spaced...far more important to hit 2 studs!

 I went from 5 fixed 13" deep vented shelves to 6 adjustable 10" laminate shelves from Home Depot. The shelves are almost in the reverse order of what they once were. The top shelf was moved up eliminating some of the wasted space towards the ceiling. I can access the canisters without a step stool and tearing off a sheet of foil on the bottom shelf just got a whole lot easier! 

Before

After

Two of the worst things about the previous shelves were that things fell through the slats and items toppled over daily. In addition, the vinyl coated shelves had a 2" lip making it impossible to take a tall item off a shelf, such as a bottle of oil, without first tipping it to clear the lip and/or taking several other things out first. Bonus: this is the first time we have been able to store large boxes of cereal upright and not on their sides!


Real life and dim light, but I was determined to finish this post today!
The selections are better around the holidays...maybe I should have waited to post? Kidding.
Technically, it's now a walk-in pantry. Losing 3" of shelf depth allows me to step inside and shut the door.
I'm not sure if it's sad or weird that I tried???

I still have plenty of room on the bottom for a wood crate on casters that I use for Costco trips and a place for the dog food container.  I did buy new canisters for flours and sugars from Target. The paint I had on hand (Pratt & Lambert Seed Pearl in semi-gloss) left over from another project. I bought the 3 acrylic tiered shelves several years ago just for this project and can't recall where they came from. All tallied, this little project cost just under $100!!!   

These acrylic tiered risers are the perfect solution for storing can goods.



Finally, I can reach all my can goods. It has made doing the grocery list easier seeing everything at a glance.

I do plan to add french doors, which should have been done with the rest of the kitchen reno. The current single door drives me absolutely nuts! I've been dreaming of something pretty for years to enhance this little space that I go into several times a day.


As much as I love my readers and want to inspire you to get organized,  I wasn't willing to "stage" the
shelves of my pantry for a pretty picture. I should have painted the crate on casters,
stenciled the word PANTRY on it and posted that! Maybe later...

 My contractor has the measurements for the new doors. I just need to decide if the glass will be frosted or clear, in which case I will hang fabric that matches the other french doors leading to the deck. Oh, and I need to pick out some great hardware, then perhaps I can respectably call it a walk-in pantry!

Weekend Project: Pantry

The pantry has been an annoyance ever since we have owned our house. The entire kitchen has been renovated and I ignored the pantry. Shameful, I know! So...nearly 18 years later, we are finally going to fix it. I don't know about you, but I especially loathe vented shelving in a pantry (except the metal racks for dishes and/or small appliances if you're lucky enough to have a big walk-in pantry) as well as for linen closets. In the 90's it was all the rage to install them. The building industry wanted consumers to buy into the concept that things needed to be vented, when actually they just wanted to provide the cheapest product possible. If your house is properly ventilated, this is nonsense for clothes and linens. And, venting food? C'mon???!!!

Step1: clear out all the food items, toss away what was expired and what nobody seemed to like?
Step 2: put all shelves at the curb for trash/recycle, so there is no putting it off yet another year!


Never again will I have to deal with things tipping over and falling through the slats,
 including crumbs that always seem to find their way to lids of cans!

 Step 3: spackle holes
Step 4: sand


The original tan paint. Not my selection and not exactly the best color choice for a small box!

 That's as far as we got. I'll be spending the weekend with my husband....in this little closet. How about you?

Tuesday Tip

This is tip #50 and in just under the wire! Organize your tear sheets.

Do any of you remember way back in February the post I did showing the dismal state of my tear sheets and magazines? I said I was going to reorganize my tear sheets and keep my commitment not to let my magazines pile up? Well I finally finished!

What should have been a quick and easy job, turned out to be a pain. After an unsuccessful search for linen or linen looking notebooks, I settled on plain paper covered ones. The only problem? No mistakes allowed with-out ripping the paper off the spine. Back to square one and search for notebooks. Delay of weeks.

I ended up just getting vinyl binders from Target and they've worked great. I put all my tear sheets in them months ago and it's been a great system even with their post-it note temporary labels! Now,  I rarely have more than 10 magazines hanging around and a lot more storage space in their absence.

I got hung up making the stupid labels. I don't know about you, but I would rather put Ikea furniture together than figure out a label maker. Every one I've ever owned is so damn complicated. Or is it just me?

Usually, I print on clear tape. And, after printing out all my categories, I realized the clear labels wouldn't show up on the B&W notebooks. Delay of weeks. I finally got around to buying white tape and printed them again. In the wrong font. Delay of weeks. Reprinted them in correct font...with help of husband. Realized I needed adjustment to some categories. Delay of weeks. This is why it took 5 months to complete one simple item on my to-do list. But it was worth it!


At last, all my tear sheets organized in the cabinet with my design books and within easy reach of my desk!



Tuesday Tip

Today I am turning the tables on you just a bit. I have been trying to re-organize my home office for far too long.  I have made a decent amount of progress in recent months. So far, I've had lots of shelving installed, purchased plenty of storage items and cleared out a bunch of stuff I didn't need. I'm still mulling over fabric for roman shades and I may move a secretary into the space from another room.

One of my biggest issues is what to do with all the magazines! They are my only real source of aggravation and disorganization in this space. Talk about a LOVE-HATE relationship. This one takes first prize. The last 2 Thursdays I've barely been able to wheel my recycle bin down to the curb. It's become the magazine graveyard. I had to purge, it was totally out of control. I dumped the final load in today. All that remains is what you see in this post. Bet my trash collectors will be liking me much better after this Thursday.

I've only explored just a few of the new on-line magazines.  I do think it's exciting and from the issues I've read, I was impressed.  I applaud them all for their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.  Still, I continue to be a fan of paper.  I enjoy flipping pages from the comfort of my favorite chair or the sofa without a lap-top...on my lap! And, since I seriously love books, I don't know that I'll ever fully embrace a Kindle either.

That said, as for my magazine habit I have tried a few different storage/organization methods:

Accordion file for tear sheets. Kitchens filed under "K" and so on...The one I had looked just like this and was ripped and barely closed...I'm pretty sure I was saving too much. The contents went into the graveyard.

Notebooks with favorite images in plastic sleeves, so I can tote it anywhere like a magazine. If I go with this option, the current ones are out of  here...too ugly!

Magazine storage files. They are the most attractive, but they are heavy and need a very sturdy shelf. Six would be my limit. I've had these for 3 years...labels would be nice don't you think?

As I search for better systems, here are my questions:

• Do you still buy or subscribe to several magazines?
• What do you do with an issue after you've read it cover to cover?

                              Recycle? Tear pages out? Save the whole issue?

• What do you do with saved issues?
• How long do you save an entire issue?

 Do you dog ear the pages? Load it up with post-its notes to mark favorite pages and items? Other?

• What do you do with tear pages?

                            Scan? File? If so, what's your method?

• How long do you keep tear sheets?

You would think as much as I talk about organizing, I could figure this one out. I have a few ideas, but I know that my fellow design/organization obsessed readers are a savvy bunch and probably have some very good ideas I've yet to consider.  Please...share your tips!!!

Tuesday Tip

Garanimals for grown-ups. Gentleman, specifically, today's tip is for you. But ladies don't click away just yet. I've mentioned in a post here and there that some refreshing was going on in the A&A master closet. I think if you want to have a beautiful start to your day, it definitely begins there.

As if we don't have enough collections in our home,  Mr. A&A has had a private one going on for sometime. Not really. As a matter of fact, I knew all about it and was totally fed up with the black & blue collection. It seems my husband has lost the ability to tell black from blue.  When he would get to a point he couldn't tell one sock from the next, he would buy more! An entire deep drawer became dedicated to the sock collection.

I gave up trying to separate them myself awhile ago and from time to time, I have seen him sporting a mismatched pair...and said nothing. Yes, occasionally, I am not a good wife. So when we were doing the little purge and using the beloved folding board, and making each shelf and drawer really beautiful, I came to a stop when I opened that drawer. I got a bag and dumped everything into it. Donated. Hopefully they will find their way to someone with good eyesight.

We went out shopping (Macy's) for new socks. I heart you Ralph Lauren for your brilliant attention to detail. Readers, just in case your not quite getting the exciting special feature of these socks, I'll explain. Each sock color has it's own little coordinating  polo pony color. They are strategically placed on the outside of each sock. So now when they come out of the laundry there will never again be the questions: what color is this and does it have a mate?

Ladies, may I suggest these for a Valentine's present. One that you both will love and that keeps on giving long after the chocolate is gone.

Images courtesy of Ralph Lauren and A&A

Tuesday Tip

Can you perfectly fold a shirt or sweater? Me either.  My husband is pretty good at folding and organizing. Actually, really good. I fell in love with his closet, before I really knew him.  I mentioned how we met here.

I went to that party. My roommate went with me. The location: bachelor apartment for two. Guests: new friends, old friends and an assortment of single woman. Some of whom don't mind their manners, especially when they drink. During the party my friend wandered into the bedroom of our host, dragging me by the hand with her...where...much to my horror, she opened the closet doors! Full disclosure, I looked. Gawked actually. It was a beautiful site. Suits perfectly hung, freshly pressed shirts hung by color, shoes organized the same way, t-shirts and sweaters looked like colorful packages lining the single shelf. She had a little crush on our host. I was interested too, but thought he was dating someone else. She looked at me, rolled her eyes said "you two are perfect for each other." Turns out we were.

Our host, now know as Mr. A&A, and his roommate way back in those bachelor days were known for throwing great parties and their invitations drew big crowds. They were also aware of deplorable behavior by certain types (those looking to confirm availability) of women, as demonstrated by my roommate. They always had a surprise or two for such types. At this particular party, they had lined the medicine cabinets with ball bearings. In the middle of the party those of us in the hallway of the apartment heard the strangest noise, even over the loud music playing. The pranksters and their buddies knew immediately what had happened and rushed to the site to revel in their victorious effort. As predicted, a woman had succumbed to her nosy ways and locked herself in the bathroom upon realizing the imminent humiliation that awaited her. When she surfaced red faced, her exit was swift. Her future invitations...lost in the mail.

So don't be a snoop and fold your shirts nice because you never know what can happen! For a little help, you can buy these folding boards here.

Tuesday Tip

I've been in the closet...far longer than I had planned. Time to come out. The dust was bad. So were some of the shoes and tops. Okay, maybe not bad, but completey unneeded and totally neglected.




Shoes being donated.

These fell into the same category.

Yes, I hang up casual tops and even some t-shirts.
 A small section...color coded...of course!
Extra hangers, so exciting! Shopping anyone?

 Yesterday, I looked in the master closet and a few things were starting to irk me. Specifically, our current method of shoe storage. Flats and men's shoes slide off the stainless steel shoe racks and either end up on the carpet or fall behind the stupid racks and make marks on the walls. They gotta go.



Goodbye stupid storage, sorry our time together was brief.
 Even with your abilty to expand, I still hate you.



I purchased a dozen tweed shoe boxes with a drop-down magnetic window (from Container Store) last year for my good shoes. They were the same storage boxes that I had just used a total of 30 for a client's closet project last year (and yes this is another one of those questions I get..."Are you ever going to show the after?" and the short answer is I don't know. The day I wrapped up I forgot my camera and just never got back to do after pictures...sorry...for me too, because I was so happy with the outcome!) So what started as a quick sweep of our closet has finally yielded an end to the annoying shoe issue. I will need to purchase more shoe storage boxes to complete this and I plan to use them for most of my shoes. I cleared 2 lower shelves for boots and my husband's shoes. But at least now I know the system, what will work, and that means completion is attainable!



Hello handsome tweed storage!

 So what exactly is my tip today? Figure out what's not working in a specific area (closet, drawer, pantry etc...) and do something to fix it! A key part of accomplishing this will be to not to get hung up what you paid for a non-performing item or how long you've had it. If it doesn't work for you, it doesn't work!

Storage And Organization Solutions For Your Holiday Decorations!

Maybe you have already put your holiday decorations away this season and maybe you are just sick of the mere mention of the holidays, but making changes to the way you organize your decorations now will change your life.  Okay, it's possible that I'm over exaggerating the outcome. But I can promise, if Christmas music isn't keeping you merry & bright while you're lugging box after box from the basement or attic, having a better storage system will definitely help! Especially when it comes time to everything down and pack it away, because there is no after Christmas music to keep you cheerful...someone still needs to invent that! 


Beautiful & practical holiday storage boxes.

 
 I have always felt I had to mentally gear up for a 2 day commitment of lugging, looking, unpacking, and searching through mounds of tissue paper in various containers all in the effort to make Christmas happen.  The middle part aka holiday decorating, I love and thoroughly enjoy! But after the successful execution of that event, when things are winding down, was the nagging knowledge of another 2 day ordeal of making Christmas disappear!

I already had a basic system in place with large red and green plastic bins purchased years ago. Gathering it all in one place is the first step. It doesn't matter what color storage boxes you choose, but stick to one that will be for holiday storage only and easy to identify.


From our basement storage room makeover last fall. 

   The next step is to give each bin or box a label.  Being able to identify at a glance, without removing a single lid, what each bin contains will feel like a gift from Santa! The labels need to be specific. This is so important if you truly want the "pack-up" to go quickly and painlessly...meaning everything fits back into the exact same place it came from.  Added bonus: labeled boxes are the best solution when you come across that one thing that got left behind and used to get shoved in some random place!


Specific labels are key to easy decorating. What a pretty box
with it's Acanthus Leaf motif!

A small tree in my daughter's room decorated
with her collection of dog ornaments.

My son's tree with all his childhood ornaments.

Each year I put the box in the hallway between their two rooms
 for them to carry out their tradition of decorating their own little
 trees and pack them away after Christmas!

 
Eventually, I realized I that my bin labeled "glass balls" was not working as well as I had hoped. It just wasn't large enough. I have a set of large peacock blue glass balls and a few others that are over sized that did not come in packages. I was storing them loose in tissue and I was always concerned they would break. I needed storage for them and that got me thinking about why was so hung up about keeping everything in it's original package? The solution??? Sort and store the glass balls by color. So I last year I figured out what additional storage was needed and ordered it.  While I waited for it to arrive, it gave me time to sort through several bins and figure out what could be donated. I remember It wasn't until the first week of February before everything was put away. Totally worth it!!!


Sort by color!

  

These gorgeous peacock blue glass balls are my favorites.

Finally, a place for these too.

I like using index cards for labels because they are cheap and easy to write on and read. For the plastic bins I just tape the label to the end facing out.  For the cardboard/fabric covered boxes I put it on top of the contents inside the box. If you really want to go all out, take a photo of the contents of each bin and that way no matter who packs it up, there is no question about what goes where. This will also help you identify what type of storage containers you are lacking so you will be able to make a list of what needs to be purchased.

These storage solutions for my holiday decorations came from Target, Container Store and Ultimate Christmas Storage .  One last thing. I absolutely think it's worth purchasing acid free tissue and shredded filler. It will keep your decorations safe from breakage and the possibility of corrosion. Do it once, do it right and you will be one happy Elf next year!