Clutter Control Products
Tuesday Tip (On Wednesday - Oops!): Stick It!
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This one's great! Attach the "hook" side of a Velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys.
What other things could you use this tip for?
TSA Friendly Bottles for Hassle Free Travel!
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This 15 piece toiletry travel containers set takes the guesswork out of travel with toiletries! I have been stopped more than once at security for having either too much or the wrong size bottles.
If you are like me, you will do anything to avoid checking bags, so you will need to follow the TSA regulations for carrying liquids on a plane. I can never remember what exactly those rules are, but I’ve found a great travel bottle set that does the math for me.
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Tuesday Tip: All Together Now!
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I love this tip!
Overhaul your linen cupboard – store bedlinen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match.
I'll be doing this over the weekend. 
Protect Your Sink And Dishes - Kitchen Sink Mats
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Nothing is worse than the feeling that comes with breaking a brand-new plate or glass in your sink. This feeling of disappointment and despair is especially compounded when your sink is scratched or damaged as well! One solution to this issue that I often see is adding a kitchen sink mat to the sink.
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Trash Bags: They’re Not Just For Garbage…
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Please join me in welcoming our newest "Freak" - Stacey Murray!
My organizing supply tote is filled with bags of all shapes and sizes. But, when I go to a client’s home, I make sure my tote bag is filled with one specific type of bag: trash bags. Trash bags are the workhorse of a Professional Organizer’s supply stash.
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Tuesday Tip: No More Brown Apples
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This week's tip:
Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band.
Kitchen Dish Drainers: Dish Washer's Best Friend
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There's a cleaning product that every kitchen needs. You might overlook them, but kitchen dish drainers are the workhorses of the kitchen. Kitchen dish drainers help you keep your dishes chip-free as they dry.
While it's great to be able to pass off a wet dish to a dishwashing partner, when you wash dishes by yourself it's not a viable option. That's why a kitchen dish drainer can be so helpful. And even if you have a built-in dishwasher, a countertop drainer is a great solution when you don't want to run the dishwasher for a small batch of dirty dishes.
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Time To Conquer Perfectionism
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Can you name 3 of the top New Year's Resolutions that people make every January?
Do you know what my 3 topics are?? AHA! How perceptive of you. That's right. The answers to both questions are the same.
My topics are (and my passion is) helping people to 1) break the procrastination habit, 2) conquer clutter and 3) manage stress in a healthy way.
Would you believe that there is one specific habit/attitude that has such a profound impact on ALL of these topics that all three of my books devote a large chunk of space to it? Got any idea what attitude would increase your clutter AND procrastination AND stress? Go ahead. Try to guess.
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Make Sense Of All Those CD's With A Clear Acrylic 30-CD Rack
I would consider myself to be a novice music fan. When I do want to purchase music, I usually just buy digital music. However, every once in a while I feel the urge to buy an actual hard copy, especially when I really love the artist. I have accumulated about a hundred CD's in my years, but I always have a hard time figuring out where to store them. They always end up in a box at the bottom of my closet, where they go criminally neglected! Because I don’t have a very large collection of compact discs, I didn’t want to over pay for a rack that was too big. I was in need of a solution.
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Tuesday Tip: Go Nuts!
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Before and After
Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.
Sink Mats for a Clean Kitchen!
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Everybody is looking to make the kitchen a clean, safe place these days. Outbreaks of salmonella and other food-related illnesses have us all updating our food safety methods. One of the simplest yet often overlooked tools for a sanitary kitchen space are sink mats.
I don’t know about you, but if I see anything touch the bottom of the sink, it’s an automatic trip to the dishwasher or the garbage.
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Tuesday Tip! New Use For Straws
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Here's a great little Tuesday Tip for you - and it's a re-purposed item tip as well: Hull strawberries easily using a plastic straw.
Got any other uses for the good old plastic straw? Leave a comment!
Deep Drawer Organizer - Perfect For Every Room
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If you're like me, and staying organized doesn't come very naturally, then you'll understand what I just experienced upon looking for something in the infamous "junk drawer" of my kitchen. The junk drawer used to be a wonderful place for me. It seemed like a perfectly reasonable solution for any small item that didn't have a place otherwise. And because it's a drawer, I've been able to keep its unruly state out of sight and out of mind. Until it exploded in my face and nearly drove me crazy!
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Baby Steps to De-Cluttering Your Office
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It happens to everybody: one day you look around your office and you wonder, "How did this get so disorganized?"
An untidy office and a messy desk can make you feel overwhelmed. It can even make you feel insecure about yourself because you'll wonder how you can get back on top of the clutter.
First of all, don't beat yourself up, and start taking small steps to get organized. Don't feel compelled to clean it all in one go, after all - your desk didn't get messy in one hour, so it will take time to get it de-cluttered and organized. Make a plan to get back on track, and start thinking about what office organization supplies you'll need.
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Save Precious Space with a Folding Dish Rack
I have quite the predicament on my hands; I live in a small studio apartment that does not provide very much counter space in the kitchen. Compounding this annoyance is the fact that my apartment also does not have a dishwasher, so I am forced to hand-wash each and every single one of my dishes. I will be the first to admit that I can be a little lazy when it comes to household chores. So just washing all of my dishes is enough work, you forget about hand-drying each dish after I am done with washing!
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Wood Bed Lifters Could Be The Perfect Gift
My little sister is going away to college after the holidays, and I was contemplating the perfect gift for her going-away party. She is going away to a huge state college, one that is notorious for its particularly miniscule dorm rooms. My sister is majoring in fashion marketing, so she has tons of clothes, just mountains of them. She has racks and drawers and shelves and cubbies, all full of her favorite clothes. She wanted to take as much of her clothes as possible with her, so I tried to find a handy storage solution.
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Holiday Planning Overlooked
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When it’s time for holiday planning, we tend to think only about preparation. Planning menus, sending parting invitations, shopping for gifts, and digging out the decorations. I find myself so overworked getting ready for holiday gatherings, I forget about the aftermath. Particularly when it comes to my extra dishes. I’ve never had a proper way of storing them, so they tend to just get thrown in a box that gets stacked with other boxes in the garage.
Bad planning like this leads inevitably to the catastrophe I encountered last week.
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Paper Piles Driving you Nuts?
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Don’t let those piles get you down! One of the most frequent requests we get are tips on mail organization. Rest assured, there are some simple steps you can take to reduce those piles of mail that seem to pop up everywhere around the house.
Mail organizers come in all styles these days, with every home decor theme taken into consideration. From door entry mail organizers to magnetic models that stick to the fridge, there is truly something for everyone.
Here are some different types of mail organizers to consider:
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Plastic Bag Dryer - The Recycler's Kitchen Friend
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Every time I go to my mom’s house, there is one thing that drives me crazy. No, not her infinite questioning, nor her ability to notice every minute thing that’s changed about me physically… she reuses plastic food bags. Which is not a bad thing, in fact it’s awesome! I too want to do all I can do be eco-conscious, but I haven’t evolved this far yet. In time I will. And it’s not the act of reusing plastic bags that bothers me; it’s what happens every time I go to the sink in her kitchen to wash my hands or rinse an apple.
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Review: Scroll Letter Holder with Hooks
In the even partnership I have with my wife, I am the lucky one who gets to be in charge of checking the mail and sorting it out. Our mailbox only has one key, and I was the one that got to hold it. That means I get to see the new magazines first, steal all the good coupons for myself and read all the thank-you cards, wedding invitations and postcards we get from our family and friends first.
Unfortunately that also means I am in charge of sorting the mail, which is something I am not very good at.
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If You Only Buy One Thing to Make Life Easier…
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Make it a wire cart! Folding wire carts are not just for little old ladies. They make life easier for everyone, myself included. Most, like this jumbo folding shopping cart, are very sturdy - carefully crafted of metal and designed to last for many years. I promise you will never run out of use for a folding shopping cart in your life.
Here are some tips on what to do with a rolling cart and where to keep it:
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Product Review: Non-Slip Stair Treads
I absolutely love the hardwood floors in the entryway to my home. The floor gives the area great charm and really adds an air of sophistication to my apartment. The hardwood floors are easy to maintain and keep clean, but there was one slight issue. And that issue was my dog. When she is coming home from a walk, she is always in a mad scurry to get back, and sprints through the front door without abandon. The only problem with her exuberance is that hardwood floors and doggy claws are not a good mix at all. I started to notice a few severe scratch marks on the otherwise pristine wood floors.
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Inexpensive Decor Ideas for Any Budget
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If your home is in desperate need of a decor-update, but the wallet just won’t allow for that costly remodel right now, never fear. We’ve got tips for decorating on any budget (yes, even if the budget is zero.) With a little creativity and a little elbow-grease, you can improve the look of any space in your home to meet your needs and brighten up your outlook instantly!
Here are some tips and rules to guide you on your affordable decorating journey:
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Spice Up Your Holiday Table
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Mixing up dinnerware is a great and easy way to create an interesting table top. Try using dinner plates from one set of china paired with salad bowls from another to create layers of pattern or color. Have a set of basic white dishes? Switch out a few pieces with dinnerware in a bold pattern and instantly create a one of a kind look!
From fine china that has been passed down through the family for years to a flea market find with a fun pattern to brand new plates with a modern shape, by pulling different elements onto your table top you can create a look that suits your style.
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Product Review: Hotel Style Luggage Rack – Foldaway Suitcase Stand
An inviting and comfortable guest room should bring relaxing hotel touches to your home. Create a casual yet stylish space for your guests by adding things they probably wouldn't have packed, like a robe or slippers. Scented candles or a cozy throw blanket are a good way to create a warm feel. Pick up some fresh flower at the store or grab some plush throw pillows from around the house to give the bed a decadent feel. These little touches are a great way to welcome your guest.
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It All Makes Sense With Galvanized Utility Bins
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I live in a house that has a lot of stairs, and it seems like I am constantly finding things that are supposed to be downstairs laying around upstairs, and things that should stay upstairs are always finding their way to the first floor - are you confused yet?
Imagine how confused I was when I discovered a set of measuring spoons, two weeks worth of mail, and seven and half pairs of shoes upstairs, and no less than four blankets and every Lego piece that's been manufactured since 1982 downstairs.
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Experience Your Dream Drawer!
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I don’t know about you, but I like searching through my dresser for matching socks about as much as I like going to the dentist! In this increasingly busy world, every minute counts, especially in the morning when I am shuffling kids, hairdryers and my own work clothes. Have you ever dreamed of opening up your drawers and immediately seeing exactly what you need, right where you need it? Sounds crazy, right?
Lap Desk to the Rescue
At the end of a long day, all my wife and I want to do is relax and watch a couple of our favorite television shows. However, my wife is an elementary school teacher and she has work to correct at the end of the day. One of the most difficult things for her to do is correct schoolwork and homework when she is trying to watch the television. She is left with one of two options: either she would have to sit at the kitchen table, way-away from the TV, or she could use the coffee table, slumped over her work and with a sore back.
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Product Review: Lapp Topper Vinyl & Plastic Lap Desk
Who among us haven’t been caught sitting on the couch, swamped by the day-to-day commonalities such as bill paying, assessing the month’s family food budget, or composing letters to love ones, while simultaneously attempting to enjoy not only a deliciously hot beverage, but also a favorite television program?
I know I have, and sometimes it is a real humdrum conundrum. There is just not enough space on my sofa for all of those activities, certainly not all at once. If only we as a species were gifted with more hands and arms! Alas, we were not.
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Product of the Week: Luggage Rack to the Rescue
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When my mother-in-law gave us a Designer Solid Oak Luggage Rack for the guest room, I admit - I thought it was kind of a crazy gift. Even crazier than the ceramic chicken that she'd brought during her last visit.
I thought it was a strange thing to have, because last time I checked we didn't have plans to open up a hotel anytime soon, and I'd only seen luggage racks during business trips. The only time I'd seen a luggage rack ins somebody's house was during reruns of 'Mr. Belvedere'. To tell the truth, it spent it's first six months in our house buried inside the guest room closet.
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