Over the Door Hooks - Six Different Ways

Sure, we've all heard of Over the Door Shoe Racks and Coat Hooks. But there's simply more to closet storage than just that! When space is at a premium in your home, look to the backs of your doors for extra hanging and storage space. Whether it is the hall closet, bedroom or back of the bathroom door, there is an over the door organizer out there to solve almost any storage dilemma.

Here are some of the more unique forms of Over the Door Racks you will find:

Video Game Storage on the back of the door? So smart. Anyone with kids knows how quickly video games and their related equipment can take over your life. This one is perfect for the kids' bedroom door, pantry or wherever else they like to hang out.
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Products to Make Life Easier… Under $50

We all could use a little more time. Maybe a little more time to exercise, play with the kids, or simply read that dusty book that's been sitting on the nightstand for months. Home product manufacturers have responded to this need by creating products that save you a little time here and there while at home, to allow you to enjoy more of the things that truly make you happy.

Here, our best picks, all under $50:

Motels have had it right for years! A wall mounted hair dryer makes this must-have hair tool easy to grab and easy to stash.
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Organizing the Kitchen in Style

Keeping the kitchen neat and tidy requires the right tools. But those tools don't have to drag your style down! Cabinet, pantry and even spice organizers come in a variety of colors, designs and materials, ready to take your kitchen to the next level in terms of functionality and style.

Here are our picks for getting the kitchen in order, without sacrificing your signature look:

These Antiqued Copper Kitchen Canisters are truly a thing of beauty and can hold all of your baking staples like flour, sugar, and even coffee. The elegant design allows for placement right on the countertop!
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Spring Cleaning On the Brain…

I can't speak for spring-weather, but like it or not, friends, spring cleaning is just around the corner. Why not make it easier on yourself this year? I have a spring cleaning tradition which is to add one special tool to my cleaning arsenal each year. Sometimes I go for an eco-friendly option, sometimes for a new appliance like a steam cleaner, and sometimes I keep it simple with a new home-made natural cleaner (vinegar with a few drops of your favorite essential oil is a favorite of many).

Here are some great tools to make cleaning your home in the spring (and year-round) easier, cheaper and more earth-friendly:

The QuantumReach Versatile Broom and Duster has an adjustable head and extends to reach underneath sofas, tables and up to the ceiling. It comes complete with interchangeable pads for a variety of chores.
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A Workable Home Office

Whether you work from home or not, a workable home office that has a touch of your style helps to keep you cheerful and on task while you do work of any kind! And it also allows your office to fit in seamlessly with the rest of your home, a must when space is at a premium. So take the time to tidy your desk once or twice a week, and bring in a vase of flowers or a potted plant from time to time to lighten the mood. In addition to those quick fixes, you can add stylish desk organizers and other pieces that work within your budget to create an office look that's all your own.

Color:

Brighten up any office space with a splash of color. These Leather Journals are available in springy and bright hues and make a dull pad of paper a thing of the past. Plus this way you can take your lists with you, stashing in your purse!
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3 More Days to Get your Anji Mountain Rug on Sale!

Just 3 more days until this great sale from Anji Mountain Rug ends! Get your favorite rugs in jute, bamboo and more at up to 30% off thru Feb. 28th, 2013.

The Kashmir Deep Weave Handspun Jute and Soft Silver Coir Area Rug features a beautiful natural style, ideal in the living room or dining room.
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All in One Futon Style Sofa

This Emily Faux Leather Futon Sofa is simply too good to be true! Multi Position Back - perfect for the living room, guest room, office and on…

Join us for all the pinning fun!

Let it snow… and snow… and snow

I'm thinking our friends in the Plains, Midwest and East may be needing one of these roof rakes right about now! Here's an article from the weather channel on snow removal tips, good food for thought.

Enjoy winter while it lasts, friends, and remember, hang in there, because Spring is just around the corner!

5 End Tables Under $100

End Tables are a necessary accent piece in most homes. Here are my picks, covering every home decor style imaginable, each under $100!

A combination of materials and nail head accents give the Edinburgh End Table personality!
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Must Have Travel Gadgets

Whether you’re looking to escape winter weather with a tropical getaway or already planning your spring break family vacation, there are a few must have travel gadgets you’ll never travel without again.

For anyone who likes to buy souvenirs or do a little shopping while on vacation a luggage scale is essential. It might not seem like a must have item when you’re packing, but you’ll wish you had brought one when you find yourself at the airport with an overweight bag. Look for a compact luggage scale that won’t take up much room and you can ensure you save yourself both time and money at the airport.
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La Jewelry Cleaner…

Maybe for that new jewelry received this Valentine's Day? The La Sonic Supreme Jewelry Cleaner

Find great ideas for organized jewelry and more with us on pinterest!

Photos in Limbo

A month or two after the holidays, I always feel like I have been bombarded with stacks of new photos! Like it or not, these pictures are simply not going to make it into frame or album for a few more months to come. So I have a few boxes on hand just for these photos in limbo. Photo boxes are an inexpensive organizing tool and are also quite often pretty. As much as I want to frame every photo of the kids, there are simply too many to make that happen. The photo box allows me to keep those precious shots without the immediate pressure of having to display them. I also like to keep these excess photos to give away to family and I like to think the kids might want to take them with them someday into adulthood.
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Dogs and Cats (Solutions)

About a year ago my wife and I decided to adopt a dog since we had become settled in our new apartment and figured it would add some companionship and a give us reason to get out and hike every weekend. There was only one small issue, which is that we have had a cat for about four years and she is certainly the “queen of her domain”. We were a little apprehensive bringing the dog home for a “foster” night to test the waters, but it turned out to be a great fit and the two animals have become fast friends.

Unfortunately we ran into another little problem with the relationship our dog has with the cat – (brace yourself because it is gross) - she loves to raid the cat’s litter box.
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Mudroom Got Ya Down?

This is a great idea for air drying those jackets, hats and socks before tracking them through the house…

Find great ideas for organizing the entryway and mudroom on pinterest with us!

What is a Snobby, French Press Drinking Coffee-Lover to Do?

If you are like me, every day has to begin with a piping hot cup of coffee. Without that hot libation, my day simply is shot – and on a few occasions I have had to go without. Blurry-eyed and in a daze, I set about my daily tasks as if I was moving in slow motion. My wife and I prefer to brew our coffee using the French Press method because it is quick and (in my humble opinion) yields an exponentially tastier cup of coffee.
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Very Cool Spice Rack

Also adjusts to hold other size bottles… (think garage, bathroom!)

Find great ideas for the kitchen including spice racks and more with us on pinterest!

Super (Organize Sports Equipment) Sunday

In the spirit of the Superbowl, I thought it would be appropriate to highlight this Smart Organizer System for Sports! If you have kids or are into sports yourself, all of that sporting equipment is probably driving you bananas on some level. I like this sports organizer because it is wall mounted and includes a ball net, easy for everyone to use and it keeps equipment off the floor!

4 Weeks to an Organized Home: Week 4 - Conquer Those Cabinets!

Cabinets are an ongoing battle for most of us, and I’m going to risk alienation on an organizing blog by saying: maybe that’s not such a bad thing. So go ahead and prepare yourself for a yearly visit into the depths of your kitchen and bathroom cabinets. It’s a good exercise anyway because you can pull older canned goods forward so they don’t expire, and the same goes for medicines and toiletries in the bathroom. Plus you can dust and check for signs of mildew or pests while you are in there.

So grab a damp cloth, a recycle bin, and join me in this last step on our journey to an organized home.

Here’s what works in cabinets:

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Organize Pretty Much Anything With This…

This handy tool covers many common storage dilemmas around the home.

Find fun ideas for an organized bathroom with Stacks on pinterest!

4 Weeks to an Organized Home: Week 3 - Closet Mania!

Fear not my friends, closets are easier than you think to organize. They have something going for them that you might not have thought of: they don’t have to be pretty. When you are organizing any other area of the home, you have to consider aesthetics, but with the closet, not so much. This allows you to search high and low for unused storage space and to make use of inexpensive storage items (plastic).
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Last Minute Gifts for the Afterparty…

Do you have an after-Christmas or New Year's party to attend? It's not too late to get one of these fab gifts sent to you or your host!

Portable speaker for your MP3 player or ipod. Fits right in a cup holder in the car too!
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Perfectly Cooled Cookies and Pies

A must-have for holiday baking: a good cooling rack for evenly cooked cookies, pies and other holiday treats!

Collect Christmas ideas on pinterest with the rest of us!

Gifts for the Little Ones…

There is a movement among moms to buy long lasting, quality presents for the kids. Something they can keep, something that will last, something that will inspire learning and quality playtime. Here are some great gifts for your son, daughter, grandchild, niece or nephew:

Make up dress-up time fun and easy to put away!

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Ladies First! Gifts for Her - Made easy…

Whether you're shopping for your sister, wife, mother or aunt, here is an easy guide to this season's hottest gifts for that lovely lady in your life! Let your computer do the work for you this shopping season with our easy to use gift guides. And, as always…Ladies First!

We gals love our cosmos and our monograms! This set of 4 glasses offers the best of both worlds!

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Keep your Christmas Tree Moist

This is a handy tool for keeping the tree moist with little effort on your part. The adorable gift design is a bonus!

Keep the holiday spirit by checking out our Christmas board on pinterest!

A Germ Free Winter

Tired of that seemingly endless winter cold season? We all know that good winter health starts with washing your hands. Even better than that, you can avoid many germs all together around the home by using automatic or hands-free appliances. Here are my top picks - especially good if you have kids in the home!

Great for the bathroom or kitchen, no greasy grimy hands to germ up the soap dispenser!

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Festive Tables for Years to Come!

Setting a festive holiday table is the perfect way to get everyone in the holiday spirit. From napkin rings to serving dishes there are all sorts of tabletop essentials. Aside from setting the table, sometimes the biggest problem is finding all the elements you need. That’s why having the proper storage is key for keeping everything organized and easy to find. There’s all sorts of china storage especially designed for holding silver flatware or fine china, all you have to do is find the right pieces to fit your collection and your storage space.
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Something for the Birdies

Believe it or not, bird houses are actually great year-round gifts for many parts of the country. These have to be some of the most adorable birdhouses I have ever seen in my life. The birds may or not appreciate what they look like, but you sure will each time you step out into the garden. Here are some of my favorites:

Would look beautiful among green pines!

Can you say "adorable" with me?

Only for the Finest Birds.

An open, airy feel.

Perfect for wall mounting outside.

Special Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale going on right now on select bird houses and feeders from Home Bazaar! Give your friends and family a gift that will bring them joy and little friends year-round!

Shopping Guide:

Bring your Accessories to Order!

Over the years I’ve experimented with different ways to store accessories so I get the most use out of them. I’ve tried keeping them in drawers, but they usually end up turning into a jumbling mess. Then I’ve added drawer dividers that help keep things sorted, but I still wasn’t getting a lot of use out of what I had since I didn’t see them on a daily basis while I was getting dressed.

Now that the weather is getting colder there are all sorts of accessories I can’t wait to wear again and I’ve finally found storage solutions that help me keep track of what I have. I’ve got tights in all sorts of colors and patterns, so when I added a hanging closet organizer with clear pockets for storing each pair it became much easier so see what I had.
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Decorating the Home Office - Tips from a DIY-er (not a pro)

I am certainly not a professional decorator, but I have painted, organized and rearranged enough home offices in my day to have gathered a few tips. To get started, I always like to divide my wants and needs into three important categories: Style, Form and Function.
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