Clutter Control Products
Seasonal Closet Switch
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The cold months are upon us! From coast to coast, even in sunny California, it’s time to make the seasonal closet switch!
Since we are switching from warm weather to cool weather, that means it’s really time to get organized. Why? Because, quite simply, summer clothes are smaller than winter clothes.
Here are some tips on getting through the transition smoothly:
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Learning Inner Productivity
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There have been so many great books written which give us the tools, tips and tricks for getting things done in an organized and efficient way. And they have been so helpful for me. But there are still times when I find myself procrastinating or avoiding certain tasks, even though I have the skills to conquer them, and not really understanding why I’m putting them off. Does this happen to you?
Well, I found a fantastic book that is helping me address exactly that.
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Product of the Week: Keeping Dishes and Serveware Safe
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The holiday season allows us to show off our best serveware, dishes and family heirlooms. That makes this a good time for some reminders and suggestions on how to keep your china, silver and dishes safe year-round! Check out my tips below on ready-to-use china storage and silver storage products, and some budget-friendly DIY tips. Whether you prefer to store your china out of sight or keep it on display, we’ve got you covered!
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Thanks Cafe Fashionista!
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We received a nice mention over at Cafe Fashionista on Saturday on our Apothecary Jars with Stainless Steel Lids! Cafe Fashionista is a fun blog on fashion, style and all things girley and fun.
Nice job, Erika - thanks!
Product (and Tip) of the Week: Damask Cotton Tote
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I have one of these Damask Laminated Cotton Totes as a constant companion. Well, on weekdays anyway.
It started out as a lunch bag because it was large enough to carry just about anything. Which meant that when I only had seconds before I ran out the door, I didn't have to take the time to put my salad in a plastic container for lunch. I could just throw in the entire bag of salad, bottle of dressing and the whole loaf of French bread. Lunch: check!
And I still do that, but it has slowly morphed into something else as well…a shopping list! Yes, you read that right, a shopping list.
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Product of the week! Space Efficient Kitchen Tools
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The newest kitchen tools fold, bend and provide multiple uses in the kitchen!
There is a new generation of kitchen tools that are designed with time and space-efficiency in mind. These nifty new items all serve at least two purposes, saving space in cluttered kitchen cabinets and drawers. This is great for apartment-dwellers, and anyone with a small kitchen or maxed-out cabinets.
Here’s a rundown of some of the best new kitchen tools out there:
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Space Treat: The Power of the Purge!
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This is one of the things I just love about organizing with my clients… so, last week a client and I are elbow deep in her papers, sifting through and making sense of them when she exclaims… "It feels so good to get rid of this stuff and make some new space! I haven't used this stuff in 10 years and I've been carting it around during 2 moves! It's just amazing how you hold onto stuff that you never end up using or even needing."
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6 Steps to an Organized Home Office
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There are so many of us that have offices in our homes, whether that is for work or for home budgeting and files. It is hard to keep this area organized when there is so little room, especially if you are trying to set up an office, computer, tables etc, in a small space. However, there are some little tips that can help you make things compact, but, within reach and organized.
1. Purchase a computer desk that has cubbies for papers (printer, envelopes etc.) Make sure that your desk also has; drawer for pens, thumbtacks, paper clips, stapler and staples and misc. It is also handy to have a filing drawer for those receipt files, so they are easy to get to in a moments notice.
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Need More Storage Space? Look Under Your Bed
ByAs a Professional Organizer working in New York City, I get to see all kinds of living spaces: large, pre-war apartments, tiny studios, airy lofts, dramatic duplexes, charming brownstones and everything in between. As you might 
expect, people living in small spaces often don't have sufficient storage places for all their “stuff”.
What I find interesting though is when people living in large spaces with ample closets and storage areas suffer from the same problem! I guess I really shouldn’t be surprised since we live in a consumer society that has so many irresistible temptations on offer at any given time.
One great storage solution that is often overlooked is the space underneath a bed.
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The Truth About Multitasking
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As a result of growing safety concerns about people texting on their cell phones while driving (there is mounting evidence that texting creates a greater risk of crashing than even drunken driving), the NY Times has recently published a flurry of articles and editorials on the subject. The conclusion reached by many automakers, cell phone manufacturers/service providers, Internet companies, computer science and communications professors, The National Safety Council, the Governors Highway Safety Association, lawmakers and President Obama is that texting while driving is dangerous and should be outlawed.
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Product of the Week: Over the Toilet Etagere!
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The over the toilet Etagere has to be one of the best inventions ever when it comes to space-efficient furniture. Many of us find that our bathrooms are exploding with cosmetic products, towels, medicine and more! And with the focus of most new home design and remodels being big, fancy kitchens, let’s face it, our bathrooms aren’t getting any larger.
Many new families also find that what used to be a roomy, organized bath is now a central gathering area for everyone’s stuff. The babies have their toys and the teens have their hair products.
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Product of the Week: Fabric Baskets
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When organizing, it’s tempting to get caught up looking for a specialty organizer, something that was designed exactly to fix your clutter dilemma. In frustration, you find yourself saying, "if I could just find a box that was ½” taller", or "if there was just the perfect organizer for my _____ "! The perfect organizer does exist for some things, but when it doesn’t, it’s time to think outside the box.
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Space Treat: Get ready, It's September!
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When September arrives, do you start to feel like your plate is suddenly piled high? It's the unofficial beginning of Fall and while you may be excited by the thoughts of cooler mornings (hopefully soon), you may also start to feel a little overwhelmed with everything that's going to happen between now and December 31st.
Does it feel a bit like the New Year without the freezing temperatures?
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Charity Profile: Books for Soldiers
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If you love to read, I bet you've got a pretty nice stockpile of books. I'll go even further and say that I bet you only read 2-5 of those books on a regular basis, and the rest are just "dust collectors."
Am I right or am I right?
I just came across a wonderful charity that can help you downsize your library, opening up a little more space for something else! It's called Books for Soldiers.
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Product of the Week: Embossed Pewter Canisters
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The Big Debate over Canisters Rages On…
My mother and I have always had a big debate over whether a set of kitchen canisters on the counter top is a)useful or b)cluttery. I have always maintained the latter. It’s not that I don’t want to have flour handy for a quick white sauce or sugar for a baking job, it’s just that I don’t like a lot of stuff (or anything, really) on my counters.
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Space Treat: Don't let the door hit you on your way out!
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Is there a door in your home that has a mind of it's own? It makes unloading and loading a full car unnecessarily challenging. Have you ever been carrying an armful of stuff when the measly door wedge gives out? … and whack! Or worse, you're trying to open the door with one foot while balancing on the other and your arms are desperately trying to keep their grip on 5 bags of groceries.
These doors just don't stay where you put them and the biggest offenders are the spring-loaded doors forcing you to race your way through so it doesn't hit you on your backside.
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10 Easy Steps to Good Note Taking
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Taking good notes can mean the difference between a passing and a failing grade. If your notes are lacking and don't have confidence in what you wrote, chances are you will not read the notes or take them seriously and only skim over them. If you have good notes that you trust, you will concentrate on what you wrote and the information will become imbedded in your mind.
Here are 10 tips on 'note taking' that will help you to study harder and more efficiently. These techniques are not only valuable for school, but for the rest of your life!
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Possibly the Cutest Lunchbag Ever!
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Ok, I'm a little freaky over lunch bags. It's the whole hand bag obsession thing. You know, can't resist them. Don't deny it - I know some of you out there can relate (Marcia) ;).
Anyway - the KoKo Christy Lunch Bag is quite possible the cutest lunchbag to date! I think I have to get it. It's all nylon with a zippered top and great end pockets for all the little extras. And it's fully insulated - Keeps your hots hot or your colds cold!
Shoot - I'd even use this as a purse! No more melted makeup or chocolate on hot days, right?
They measure 11.5"H x 6"W x 5.5"D, so they will hold quite a bit! They come in Black, Green and Chocolate Brown. And not bad at just under $20!
Space Treat: Magnetic Solutions
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Right 12, Left 37, Right 16 - that was my high school locker combination.
Back to school season is here! We're surrounded by lots of new notebooks, pens, paper tablets and my favorite… magnetic gadgets for lockers!
Even if you're all grown up, you can still get a bang out of these fun and functional items. Magnetic gadgets are available all year round but right now there is an influx of bright, colorful ones marketed to students… but don't let that stop you from enjoying them yourself!
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SPACE TREAT: Embrace your laziness?
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All this hot and humid weather is making me feel lazy. How about you?
You may be relieved to hear that when it comes to getting organized, laziness can be your biggest ally. The trick is to design your system around your "laziest common denominator", meaning, doing things with the least number of steps.
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Product of the Week: Insanely Cute Market Totes
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Brand new to Stacks and Stacks - Painfully cute Polka Dot Market Totes!
These have got to be some of the cutest tote bags I've ever seen! They are made of laminated polka dot printed cotton fabric and come in Lime, Pink or Black and White, with a little ribbon tie at the top to keep it closed.
The laminated fabric is great because it's water resistant and can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. And with the 14.5" H x 14" W x 6" D size, this tote is great for books, beach, pool, diaper bag, purse, lunchbag, wet clothes or towels, quick grocery trips, kids toys - you name it!
At $19.99, it's a great deal for back to school, as a gift - or anything, really! Oooh! How great would this tote bag be as a reuseable gift wrapping with something else tucked inside!
How would you use this tote bag?
Kid's Two Sides Easel: Review from 3Garnetsn2Saphires
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Karen over at 3garnetsn2sapphires gave our Two Sided Art Easel a glowing review!
"It is one toy that allows two children to be together, but separate at the same time.
Twins love being together, but they always have to share just about everything.
This children's easel does not require them to take turns and each child can have his or her own space without purchasing two separate products.
How many toys can you say that about?"
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Product of the Week! Magnetic Knife Holder
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The benefits and many uses of these handy racks are never ending!
This new magnetic knife holder is affordable, easy to install and one of the most space efficient kitchen gadgets out there! Whether you are blessed with a huge kitchen with seemingly endless storage, or you are more like me, constantly looking to squeeze in an extra inch of storage in every nook and cranny, a magnetic knife rack is a wonderful choice for cutlery storage. Here are some of the reasons I like these handy kitchen organizers:
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Recycling Beauty Products
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Are you really going to use that lotion that you got at the office gift-swap party 2 Christmases ago? Ummm…no.
Chances are, you've got some beauty products that are — but really shouldn't be — taking up some valuable real estate in your bathroom.
This week, I encourage you to go through your bathroom storage, tossing anything you no longer need, want, or use.
But don't just put the bottles and boxes into the trash! Opt to be environmentally responsible.
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Organizing Your Life on a Shoestring Budget
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"I don't know about every one else in the world, but when it comes to all of those fancy storage containers and cutesy little baskets for organizing, I cringe at the thought of the extra expense and the dent it is going to put into my budget.
Who can afford all of that stuff at one time? Gosh, by the time I made my list, if I didn’t pay any bills and eat, I could only afford to buy two-thirds of what was on my list. Help me; give me a clue how to organize within my budget!"
This is what a reader wrote to me last week. I understand completely, it can get expensive if you are going to purchase all of the cute little organizers and storage containers. However, who said you had to?
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Space Treat: The Difference Between Buried Treasures and Fool's Gold
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Have you ever intended to sort through your stuff with the hopes of letting some of it go only to find that you've just discovered buried treasures? Suddenly everything seems useful, sentimental, valuable and practical.
You haven't worn this watch since 1997 but hey, it still works. You loved your white water rafting vacation last summer, why not hold onto the brochure to remember all the good times? You put so much energy into researching and purchasing your new digital camera, how could you possibly think about recycling the box?
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Product of the Week: Folding Shopping Cart
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Ever need an extra pair of arms? Check out this Folding Shopping Cart!
I really could have used something like this a few years back! We were living in a small neighborhood and we only had one car. Even though the store was close and my kids could make the walk, I would take their double stroller with me to load the groceries in. How great this cart would have been - It even has a drink holder!
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Space Treat: Manila Magic
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Have you ever tried to jam an inch or two of paper into a manila folder, only to find that the papers peak up so high they block the title that you just wrote on the tab? If so, this Space Treat is for you!
Maybe you've noticed, or maybe you haven't, but the manila folder has ridged horizontal lines (usually about 2-5 of them) across the bottom inch of the folder.
Fold at these nifty ridged lines and create a "box bottom" which better accommodates these wider chunks of paper without blocking the view of the tab.
Space-taculary, Erica
www.TheSpacialist.com
Product of the Week: Breakfast Carts!
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Color AND Space Efficiency, all in one piece!
Breakfast carts are not just for tiny homes. These nifty, space saving carts can be used for a multitude of purposes in homes, both large and small.
In larger houses, where a formal dining room is already available, a breakfast cart can be used in the kitchen as a gathering place for the family – a great place for kids to do their homework, parents to pay bills and singles to enjoy a quick meal.
In apartments, condos and smaller houses, a breakfast cart can do double duty in the kitchen as a prep area and eating area, and provides a great buffet and serving table at dinner parties.
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Wanna Get Organized? 3 Must-Do Steps!
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When it comes to organizing, it's best to set guidelines for a project - guidelines that will not only help define what you want but also help determine a project's time line and framework.
Don't say: I'll organize my house completely over the next
month.
Do say: I want to organize my entire house by Halloween, and I'm starting with the garage. I'll give myself 3 weeks to finish it, and then I will move to the bathroom, kitchen, etc.
Why is the 2nd option the best? Because…
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