Getting Organized Around the Home with Staples

I am on a mission to get organized.

So far each weekend in 2013 I have tackled at least one drawer, counter top, or cabinet to organize and it's working! I have been purging and trying to find ways to better organize what is left. Sometimes it's easier to organize a drawer or cabinet after I've emptied it and I see I only need to keep a portion of what just came out. I have been tossing and donating items as I clean out certain areas. Not only does this give me extra room, it makes it easier to look at the space and put things back in an organized way. And donating extra items (did you know I had 3 extra coffee makers??) to homeless shelters and needy people means it's staying out of the landfill and helping someone else.

Start Small

The thing with getting organized is that you can become paralyzed by the fact that you 'don't have the right storage'. Instead of looking for an entire wall unit to clean up your famly room, start small. Look for something that will help organize just one area - books, board games, socks and underwear, computer equipment, or whatever else is getting out of control. It's also easier to get started on a small job. Mentally and physically it's easier to dive into cleaning up just one area or one category of 'things'. Just as people often say, "One day at a time", they could say "One drawer at a time".

Look for Multi-Purpose Pieces

The trick is to find the right storage that can work in any room of the house. Whether it's the twins' room, the family room, my home office, or my bedroom, I need a storage unit that can be moved where I decide I need it most. What I have found in my search is that Staples has a great selection of storage units that work in all areas of my house. When the folks at Staples asked me to review a product from their site I opted for a light-weight, fabric storage unit.

It's perfect as an end table as the top of hard and solid. It will work in my family room to keep the library books and magazines from getting scattered all over the floor. This piece would be great in the guest room to hold extra sheets and towels. I might use it in my home office to hold the supply of papers, labels and ink cartridges for my printer. It will even work in the girls' room or in my closet as the perfect place to keep socks, or other accessories. This piece costs around $50. Not a bad price considering how versatile it is.

Staples Rewards you for getting organized

What I love about Staples are the rewards. They basically PAY you to shop! The Mister just went to Staples last week and use our rewards to get almost $100 worth of computer equipment, offices supplies and cleaning supplies ALL with our Staples Rewards! If we have to get these things, we might as well get them at Staples where we not only get a good price, but we are rewarded.

Where do you go to get organized?

Have you ever found the perfect storage unit to help you get organized around the house? Do you jump in and commit to organizing an entire room or do you prefer to just work on one small section?

I'd love to know what tips you have!

Janine

Disclosure: Staples provided me with this Altra storage unit for the purposed of a review but all opinions are my own. To see the full line of storage cabinets visit Staples.com.

Save 15% on Scout & More at Artisans Gallery Through April 22nd!

 

Fun and Functional Storage Solutions from Scout

Some of you may have never heard of Scout brand bins and totes and for this post, you will thank me.

You. Are. Welcome.

Scout is a brand developed by Bungalow (their Twitter is @scoutbybungalow ) in answer to the question,

"Why can't I find a fun, colorful, sturdy yet stylish tote bag?"

Thus the Deano Tote Bag was born. The Deano eventually got married to a box and they had babies and named them Mighta Bin and Hang-10 Bin.

Hang-10 Bin in Navy Jones

What I love about Scout bins and totes:

(Note: these are in no particular order. Not sure why I had to point that out I just felt like I did.)

1. Many (most?) are splash resistant and in fact, you clean them by hosing them down!

2. The fabric is sturdy yet very lightweight and some of my friends have been known to pack totes and bins in the bottom of their suitcase to keep things organized on vacation!

3. COLOR COLOR COLOR and fun patterns and such cute designs bin and...

4. Scout bins and totes make my clutter look pretty!

5. Affordable storage! (bins start at less than $20 and totes start at less than $30) Just ask my friend Linsday who had a "bintervention" on the Nate Berkus show.

Artisans Gallery has the largest selection of Scout products (both online and in-store)

Artisans Gallery is the most incredible gift shop ever. This gem has managed to not only thrive, but EXPAND their business in what many people refer to as "this economy". How? Good thing my friend @Jodifur asked during the blogger preview!

Artisans has a loyal customer base that they serve both in the store and online. I have found gifts at Artisans for women, kids but also for men! Of course I always find a little something for me too.

Coupon Code for Scout and more valid at Artisans online and in store!

Now through April 22, 2011 you can get 15% off of EVERYTHING by using

Code: ART15 when you check out!

Shop online at Artisans or visit their store in Maryland.

ALSO

Shipping is FREE for online orders over $60 (and just $6.99 for orders under

Some ideas of who you may be browsing for:

Teachers

Coaches

Yoga insructor

Kids birthdays

Mother's Day

Father's Day

I've-had-a-helluva-day

You get the idea. And if you don't I have a few photos of some of the goodies Artisans sells in addition to a huge Scout collection.

Above: coctail napkins, paper coasters, Friends frame, and Webkinz magnetic bookmark

Above: veggie dip, caramel coffee, mulling spices, fun pyramid tea, and the best darn pecan praline this side of the Mississippi!

Above: bracelet made with paper beads that support women-owned businesses in Africa, yummy smelling soap and candle, fancy nail file, and my favorite brand of lotion, Thymes.

Janine

Disclosure: I participated in a blogger Scout preview event at Artisans. I received good bags of product as a thank you for coming to the event. I also purchased product at the event. Since I like long disclosures I will tell you what I bought but you have to promise not to tell the girls! I bought my mom a tote and the girls each got a bag (waterproof YAY) to use at the pool this summer. Can't wait to show you! Also, all opinions are my own and this post was neither approved nor reviewed prior to being published.

52 to Fabulous - Color My World

I am welcoming myself back into this weekly series that explores different ways to get fabulous in just 52 weeks. I've missed a few weeks but that's the beauty of this series - you can always jump right back in!

This week we're talking about using color to help you stay organized.

Currently I keep my family activity on my computer using iCal and color code each entry depending on who it relates to. I use:

Blue for Home (repair services, events we're hosting, vacations, etc.)

Red for Me (blog contest ending dates, appointments, conference calls for work, etc.)

Green for The Mister (appointments when he tells me)

Pink for The Twofer (birthday parties, school events, Daisy meetings...)

The challenge this week is to come up with other ways to get organized using color.

One summer I lived with a friend and his family in Virginia. His mom had the most incredible closet. All of her shoes were lined up perfectly on shoe racks and they were organized by color...like a rainbow.

ROY G. BIV

Color coded shoe collection via Apartment Therapy

The first time I saw it I chuckled.

Then I quickly came to appreciate the genius of it.

And how many shoes she had...wow.

Now I'm searching for other ways to use the rainbow to help keep me organized. Any ideas?

 Janine