Clever, Easy Solutions to get your Kids to do Chores

This post is by Contributing Writer Lori Hernandez of Three Acre Farm .

https://www.kitchenstewardship.com/kid-friendly-kitchen/?inf_contact_key=ae7b12b811a3ddf68e6c89d1a68f63acbe ab32f89ea78e676a5a900ea429d3bf

Note from Lois:  Teaching children how to work around the home is so important.  Not only is it a great help to the entire family in helping to operate a home more smoothly, but it lays a foundation for each child before they leave home.  Having responsibility gives them more confidence as well.

Writing Nook

by Michelle Gill  www.michellegill.us

I love reading nooks, tree houses, making small spaces into favorite places.  We have a walk-in closet in our living room.  I took the doors off and made it my writing nook. 

So if your house is lacking in space or you just feel the need for a creative space, take a look at your closets.  How can you change it into a usable space versus just storage? 

At the top of my closet, I used a quilt my grandmother made for me to create storage space behind it, while showing off her handiwork and bringing some warmth of color into the space.  On the left side, our jackets and coats still hang but on the right side, I put in a bookshelf and my printer.  

It is not only functional, but it also deepens the closet visually.  If you don't have a window like I do, the color on the walls or a large mirror that will reflect the light will help brighten it up. 

A small space just my own with my favorite things around me is the perfect creative place for me to write.

                 

Organizing Your Home

by Debbie Williams, Debbie@organizedtimes.com
Copyright 2007, Used by permission 

One of the key rules in organizing and decorating is to utilize vertical space. Often we place furniture around the room with nothing above it, forming a nice horizontal line. There is a ton of unclaimed storage and visually appealing space right above the furniture line! For most organizing projects, you have four choices: hang it, put it in a drawer, store it on the floor, or shelve it.

Getting Started ~ Gather several boxes labeled: To Keep, To Trash, To Sell, Undecided. Begin sorting. Don't try to find a place for everything until your items are sorted. Group your items by category. Decide what will be folded, what will be placed on hangers, what will go into drawers. By planning wisely during your sorting process, you have eliminated the need for many storage items. Use what you have around the house, then buy specific sizes for the articles you need to organize.

Closet Space ~ Up off the floor!! Use multilevel rods for hanging items. Bins and shelf dividers keep folded items stacked. They are inexpensive to buy and can usually be found in discount stores or home stores. The time you save sorting through things on the floor or in drawers for purses and accessories will be well worth the small investment. This will not only free up valuable drawer space, but can eliminate the need for chest of drawers altogether.  When organizing your closet, keep all blouses together. Sort by color, casual or dressy, long sleeved or short sleeved. Do the same for skirts, dresses, slacks and jeans.

Kitchen Capers ~ Stack it Up. Use plastic or wicker in-baskets and go vertical to utilize counter space. Don't spread; stack. Purchase wire shelves for pantries and cabinets at your discount store. These double the space for dishes, pots, and pans. Lid organizers and baking tray racks store stackable pots and pans.

Hang On ~ Hang on. Use over-the-door hangers or door-mounted holders to display pantry items. Holders for seasoning envelopes, spice boxes, and plastic wraps consolidate these elusive items once and for all. You can even buy under-the-shelf organizers for paper plates, napkins, and coffee filters.

Junk Drawer ~ No more junk drawer? No way! Just use any type of plastic basket or cutlery organizer for your junk drawer, and clean it out routinely.

Pretty Is As Pretty Does ~ Since counter space is at a premium, don't display all your knickknacks on the countertop. Hang framed prints rather than resting them on easels. Consolidate fridge photos with a magnetic mat, or adhere a magnetic sheet to each picture creating your own photo magnets. Store tall utensils in pottery or your favorite pitcher. This makes your favorite things do double duty, creating more drawer space and reducing countertop clutter.

Kid Clutter ~ If you have a two-story home, upstairs toys are not dragged downstairs, they stay in the bedroom or playroom. Keep a few toys on a small shelf, in a wicker basket or toy bin downstairs in the family room. These must be cleaned up each night before bedtime.  Downstairs push or riding toys must stay downstairs and off the steps.

To further utilize vertical space, install shelves and paint them to match the wall. Hang toy hammocks for stuffed animals. Spray paint a long shower tension rod, wrap with Velcro strips, and stick up stuffed animals.

Old soda crates found at flea markets can be cleaned up, painted, and will house treasures of all kinds: collections (shells, rocks, key rings, kids meal toys). Smaller versions can be purchased at craft and discount stores.

Interior decorators encourage us to keep our collections, but to consolidate rather than scatter them for drama. Encourage your child's creativity by enlisting their help for novel solutions for storage. Give them a budget, make a list of things to contain, and see what they come up with. Perhaps they'll surprise you and suggest taking a box full to their favorite children's charity, or have a garage sale to raise money for newer toys. Involving your kids in the planning, prioritizing, sorting, and containing stages ensures better (not perfect) participating in the maintenance of clutter. And who knows? You may actually nurture a minimalist of your own in the process. Or a packrat with incredibly organized closets.

In the lower grades of elementary school, the classrooms are set up in learning centers. And to contain the clutter in the classroom, Miss Crabtree has a strict rule of putting a toy away before taking out another one. This may seem strict in your own home and does not work with every child. With my own son, I have the "three toy rule": he may play with three toys, then it's time to put them away before dragging out another one. It works well with puzzles, books, and other like items. If you start young, they may continue this "clean as you go" rule throughout life.

Small plastic shoe boxes are perfect for Legos®, Barbie® clothes and accessories, and Hot Wheels. Find the totes a size larger with handles on the top for easy carrying to and from the play area.

Larger tubs hold blocks, play food and dishes, and other pieces that just seem to multiply in the night.

Save the extra large tubs for train sets, car tracks, doll accessories, and sports gear.

Flat under-the-bed boxes are wonderful for out of season clothes and toys. Most closets are not large enough for toys and clothes, so why not store unused toys as you would clothing: kites, beach gear, and baseball gear is stashed during winter months; football, hockey stick, and ice skates are stored during the summer.

By using some of these organizing tips, you will reclaim storage space and cut down on the clutter in your home. Use the basic principles of clutter containing for each area in your home. By containing clutter, you'll find yourself well on the way to becoming a bit more organized.
__________________________________________ Debbie Williams is an organizing strategist and parent educator who offers tools and training to help you put your house in order. She is the author of "Put Your House In Order." Learn more at http://www.organizedtimes.com

Discovering Bonus Space Right in Your Home

by Lois Breneman - Copyright 2004 - Revised 2014 - Heart to Heart

http://heartfilledhome.blogspot.com/search/label/Storage

All of us have probably thought how we need more storage space in our homes.  First of all, getting rid of all those things we really don't need will cut way down on the needed storage space.  I'm working on that, but it's easier said than done.  Then how about investigating every available space in your home and putting it to good use if you are still in need of more storage space?  Look around your home for items that serve as a decoration, but allow for hidden storage as well.  In many cases extra storage is available and just waiting to be found!  Here are some clues as to where you can discover extra bonus space right in your own home!  Think vertical! 

Hang a clear vinyl pocket organizer (shoe bag) inside the linen closet to hold Band-aids, bandages, tape, small tubes of medications, a thermometer, ball syringes, etc. Everything will be easy to see and locate quickly when needed.  If you can't find clear organizers, Walmart has beige mesh shoe bags which work well.

A mesh shoe bag with horizontal slots on the front and back, recently found at Walmart, is perfect to store fabric stabilizers for those of us who do machine embroidery.  Now I can use its original space for other sewing supplies!

A clear vinyl pocket organizer is effective when hung inside a broom closet to store Goo Gone, window cleaner, all purpose cleaner, rubbing alcohol, and other cleaning supplies.  Be sure to tuck in plenty of microfiber cloths or terry cloth squares, which I prefer.  An old bath towel (with no holes) can be cut into eighths to make the same number of wonderful cleaning cloths.  After rounding the corners, simply sew around each one using the zig-zag stitch on a sewing machine to prevent unraveling and lint.  These work great for numerous cleaning jobs and are virtually free!

Hang another clear vinyl pocket organizer inside the coat closet for sunglasses, gloves, scarves, fold up umbrellas, a lint brush, and other things you might need to grab before you go out the door.

Hang more clear vinyl pocket organizers inside your children's closet doors, unless the doors are louvered. I'm sure you will agree that small things stored in these pockets are so much better than scattered all around their rooms! And everything will be visible through the clear vinyl!

Store often-used information, taped inside kitchen cabinet doors.  A chart of family illnesses, giving each name, date, illness, and remedy, is a valuable chart to have at your fingertips.  Food substitutions are another handy piece of information, and I know we can all think of more information we'd like to keep handy.

If you are in the process of building or remodeling your home, you may want to consider adding one built-in locker for each family member - near the door, all in a row. I have seen this plan carried out in the home of a friend and the mother raved how they all loved the convenience of keeping each person's coat, boots, gloves, school books, backpack, etc. right by the door. The mother also loved how each person was responsible for his or her own personal locker!  A great idea!

If you have a deep closet or pantry where things seem to get lost, store items on trays that can be pulled out, so you have full access to everything and are able to find what you need.

Small round wooden tables, purchased for as little as $5 (on sale), can provide lovely hidden storage! With a round tablecloth draped down to the floor, no one will ever know what you have hidden there and it provides a nice decorative touch to a bedroom, living room, family room, great room, dining room or sun room. A round piece of glass can be purchased to set on top of the tablecloth for protection from spills. A large round lace doily or a smaller square piece of contrasting fabric placed over the tablecloth can change the whole appearance.

Use empty decorative ceramic containers for storage, as well as decoration. Examples: Pretty ginger jars, canisters, covered ceramic dishes, vases or teapots.  Large painted milk cans can hold umbrellas.

In the bathroom install shelves to set on top of or above the tank of the commode for additional space. Every bathroom can use more storage and this is an excellent vertical space to use.

Use a hanging shelf that slips over the shower head to hold shampoo, conditioner, and razors.  Racks are also available to hang on the side of a shower, when using an adhesive hook on the tile.

A shallow overhead shelf or two situated up high at the end of the bathtub is another possibility.

Slide under-the-bed boxes -- where else but under the beds!  I'm sure you can think of something to store in those (gifts, out-of-season shoes or clothing, etc.).  If a bed doesn't allow enough height for a box to fit under the mattress, the feet of the bed could be raised up a little on four blocks of wood (about 4" wide with a hollowed out area to hold the feet of the bed).  My husband rounded the corners as well, in order to prevent sore toes that might kick into the wood by accident.

Have you thought of storing things under sofas and chairs with skirts? Yes, even there!  Sofas with skirts are perfect for this, but not so easily found these days.

A shallow cabinet (about one or two inches deep) would be sufficient to hold necklaces and bracelets with cup hooks or even push pins to hold them. Hang it behind a bedroom door where it would be protected by a rubber door stop. A beautiful painting could even be attached to the front. Or use the space in the back of your bedroom closet to hang necklaces and bracelets.

Many closets have wooden strips around the wall for the shelves. Insert push pins into the wood to hang necklaces and bracelets. This works great and keeps them out of sight.

Hang bookshelves along the wall above a desk or computer to make good use of that unused space.

In many homes it would work to enclose the area under the stairs for storage, with a door. It's amazing how much can be stored there.

Inside a closet door, attach lightweight plastic-covered wire shelves designed to slip over the back of a door or fasten onto the inside of the door. This will hold so much and keep all the contents right at your fingertips.

If a closet has too much empty space between the shelves, add another shelf or two for more organized storage and better use of the space.

Look carefully at each closet and find a way to use all the available space. By using baskets, square plastic tubs or plastic shoe boxes (with lids) on closet shelves, they can be stacked to maximize the available space. Be sure to label all containers to make it easy to locate various items.

Under-the-shelf storage can be purchased in plastic-coated wire to be slipped on a shelf to make use of that unused space under the shelf.

Building shelves directly above your washer and dryer is a great idea, because that is normally wasted space. Use either open shelves or enclosed cabinets for laundry supplies and many other items.

Stacking makes use of extra space. At least three six drawer organizers (without the wheels attached, of course) can be stacked to provide organized storage for papers, CD's, DVD's, office supplies, scrapbooking supplies, rubber stamping supplies, sewing supplies, crafts, etc.

Add an extra make-shift shelf to the floor of a closet, simply by raising the shelf up with two bricks on each end. This will provide extra storage space for shoes. Use a board that you stained or painted to match the room.  You could even cover it with fabric or matching contact paper.

In a child's room, stuffed animals could be stored and displayed in mesh, hanging from the ceiling in a corner of the room. You can find fish netting in stores for this purpose.

Shelves built around one or more walls about 12 to 18 inches below the ceiling of a child or teen's room provide not only storage, but decoration as well. The personality and interests of your child can be displayed for your enjoyment and theirs.  This is a good place for trophies as well.

Continue looking for unused space in your home. Hopefully these ideas of finding extra bonus storage space in the home will help us all to be more organized.

Organizational Craft: A Scarf Hanger

http://www.onlyhangers.com/163/free_pdf_download:_crafts_from_the_closet.htm

Used by permission

Only Hangers has developed an e-book that puts your old hangers to use for decorations around the home as well as helping to get you more organized.  One of the crafts from the book is a scarf holder. It takes less than 15 minutes from start to finish and all you need is a plastic coat hanger and shower curtain rings. This craft is perfect for those who have limited space in their closet and have a lot of scarves that they would like to keep separated and easily visible for choosing one to wear.  Anyone can do this, because there is really only one step.  You simply clip on the shower curtain rings to the bottom of the hanger and you are all set to hang your scarves from the hanger.  Some other craft ideas in the book include a picture hanger, necklace or belt organizer. To get the free e-book, Crafts from the Closet from Only Hangers go here

 

Organizational Tips

by Lois Breneman ~ Heart to Heart Newsletter
© 1982 ~ Revised 2004  Reprint Permission Required

        Once you put more order into your life, you will reap the benefits of getting more accomplished and enjoying a slower pace and a more relaxed lifestyle.  

        Organization is very much a matter of common sense!  It is looking at a task and asking yourself, "How can I do this better to save energy or time?"

        Someone has said, "People that are organized are just too lazy to get up and look for it!"
 

SCRIPTURE VERSES

Proverbs 31:27    She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

I Timothy 5:14    I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house...

I Corinthians 14:33   For God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.

I Corinthians 14:40   Let all things be done decently and in order.

Titus 2:3-5    Older women...encourage the younger women...to be keepers at home...
 

HOUSEKEEPING 

Make a list for each day, a week at a time, using your family calendar, and filling in with things you need to do in the home, errands you need to run, etc.  Plan the next day the night before in more detail.  Use a space on your schedule for things to mention to your husband when he comes home.    

Use the "Mount Vernon Method", as described in The Messies Manual by Sandra Felton.  Attack and conquer one room at a time, using three boxes for (1) things to keep, (2) things to give away and (3) things to throw away.

Make your bed as soon as you get up and train each child to do the same.

Before leaving the bathroom in the a.m., clean it up. 

Keep bathroom cleaning supplies in each bathroom.  It only takes a minute or two, if you keep it up.  Keep out of reach of young children, however.

Train your children to do as much as they can by themselves. See that they do it.  Don't just expect it, but inspect it.

Have children pick up their own toys and belongings, as well as put their clean and dirty laundry in the proper places at an early age.

Tidy up the house before bedtime.  This only takes a minute or two.

Leave a room as orderly as you found it.  Teach your children to do the same.

Rules of the House:  "If you open it, close it.  If you get it out, put it away.  If you sleep in it, make it up.  If you take it off, hang it up.  If you turn it on, turn it off.  If you drop it, pick it up.  If you clip it, file it.  If it's not broken, don't fix it.  If it hurts, comfort it.  If it cries, love it." 

Develop your own cleaning system, and you can have company come without too much cleaning to do.

Plan for easy maintenance.  Don't buy white rugs, clothes that need ironed or dry-cleaned, long-haired dogs or a lot of knick knacks that need dusting.

Store things where they will be used. 

Keep a small dustpan and brush, as well as a cloth sprayed with Endust or a small, wool dusting wand in your car. When you're waiting to pick up someone, you can do some quick cleaning and keep car dust to a minimum. 

Time your jobs.  They take less time than you would think.  Make a list of mini jobs (jobs taking less than 10 minutes).  You can do these when you see you have a few minutes before an appointment.  Once the clutter is gone, the actual job takes less time than you realized.

A long-handled wool dusting wand (about $6 to $10) is a great time and energy-saving device, and cuts down on bending and stooping.  It is good for hard-to-reach places as well.

When your children are playing outside, set a pitcher of ice water and cups outside, so they don't need to run in and out. 

A large basin of soapy water (outside) for children to wash their hands is convenient and saves you a mess in the house. A large Tupperware dish with a lid is good to take to the park, with soapy water, so everyone can wash up well before a picnic. 

When you wash your sheets, fold roughly right from the clothesline or dryer and put directly back on the beds.  This saves work, time and money.  No need to have more than one set of sheets per bed--only extras for company. 

When you wash towels, there is no need to fold all of them.  Some can be hung up where needed. Skip the fabric softner for more absorbent towels.

Fold towels lengthwise first, so they will be ready to hang up when you need them, without rearranging the fold.

Clean out your refrigerator the day before you grocery shop.

Keep up with laundry daily or every two days, when you have children.  When they leave home, you will look for dirty clothes to wash!

Example of a cleaning schedule:
(This is only an example.  Every wife and mother will have a different schedule - whatever works best for her family's needs.  This is just a guide.)

  Mon.   Take trash out
             Dust and vacuum main floor
             Clean kitchen appliances and cupboards
             Wash kitchen floor
  Tues.  Wash sheets, hang out to dry
             Clean out refrigerator
             Sewing, crafts or hobby
  Wed.  Cook dinner in crock-pot
             Run errands and grocery shop  
  Thurs. Clean bathrooms         
             Sweep porches, steps and sidewalk
             Do one special job (see list below) - More, if you have a spurt of  

             energy
  Fri.     Dust and vacuum upstairs and downstairs.
  Sat.    Bake, cook ahead, sew or family outing.         
            Freeze food for lunches

Special Cleaning Jobs:
        1.  Clean silver and light fixtures
        2.  Wash windows
        3.  Wax car
        4.  Clean pots and pans
        5.  Clean and organize toy room
        6.  Clean sofas and chairs
        7.  Shampoo carpet
        8.  Deep Clean Gertrude's room - cobwebs, walls, baseboards, under 

         furniture, etc.
        9.  Deep Clean Hortense,'s room
        10. Deep Clean Buford's room
        11. Deep Clean master bedroom
        12. Clean closet and drawers - Gertrude's
        13. Clean closet and drawers - Hortense's
        14. Clean closet and drawers - Buford's
        15. Clean closet and drawers - master bedroom       
        16. Clean filing box and night stands
        17. Clean storage area
        18. Clean laundry room
        19. Clean family room
        20  Clean recreation room
        21. Clean study
        22. Deep Clean bathrooms - ceiling, walls, baseboards, tile, etc.
        23. Clean pantry
        24. Clean kitchen cupboards
        25. Clean coat closet
        26. Clean hall closet
        27. Clean game closet
        28. Clean family room closet
        29. Wash front and back of house (wood) and porches        
        30. Clean out buffet and China closet drawers.

* This list must be written out to match the jobs that need done in your own home.   Another method of cleaning your house is to do all the ceilings in the entire house at one time, wash all walls, wash all woodwork, clean tops of all door frames, etc.  Do what works best for you.

Discovering Bonus Space Right in Your Home

by Lois Breneman - Copyright 2004 - Revised 2012 - Heart to Heart

All of us have probably thought how we need more storage space in our homes.  First of all, getting rid of all those things we really don't need will cut way down on the needed storage space.  I'm working on that, but it's easier said than done.  Then how about investigating every available space in your home and putting it to good use if you are still in need of more storage space?  Look around your home for items that serve as a decoration, but allow for hidden storage as well.  In many cases extra storage is available and just waiting to be found!  Here are some clues as to where you can discover extra bonus space right in your own home!  Think vertical! 

Hang a clear vinyl pocket organizer (shoe bag) inside the linen closet to hold Band-aids, bandages, tape, small tubes of medications, a thermometer, ball syringes, etc. Everything will be easy to see and locate quickly when needed.

A clear vinyl pocket organizer is effective when hung inside a broom closet to store Goo Gone, window cleaner, all purpose cleaner, rubbing alcohol, and other cleaning supplies.  Be sure to tuck in plenty of microfiber cloths or terry cloth squares, which I prefer.  An old bath towel (with no holes) can be cut into eighths to make the same number of wonderful cleaning cloths.  After rounding the corners, simply sew around each one using the zig-zag stitch on a sewing machine to prevent unraveling and lint.  These work great for numerous cleaning jobs and are virtually free!

Hang another clear vinyl pocket organizer inside the coat closet for sunglasses, gloves, scarves, fold up umbrellas, a lint brush, and other things you might need to grab before you go out the door.

Hang more clear vinyl pocket organizers inside your children's closet doors, unless the doors are louvered. I'm sure you will agree that small things stored in these pockets are so much better than scattered all around their rooms! And everything will be visible through the clear vinyl!

Store often-used information, taped inside kitchen cabinet doors.  A chart of family illnesses, giving each name, date, illness, and remedy, is a valuable chart to have at your fingertips.  Food substitutions are another handy piece of information, and I know we can all think of more information we'd like to keep handy.

If you are in the process of building or remodeling your home, you may want to consider adding one built-in locker for each family member - near the door, all in a row. I have seen this plan carried out in the home of a friend and the mother raved how they all loved the convenience of keeping each person's coat, boots, gloves, school books, backpack, etc. right by the door. The mother also loved how each person was responsible for his or her own personal locker!  A great idea!

If you have a deep closet or pantry where things seem to get lost, store items on trays that can be pulled out, so you have full access to everything and are able to find what you need.

Small round wooden tables, purchased for as little as $5 (on sale), can provide lovely hidden storage! With a round tablecloth draped down to the floor, no one will ever know what you have hidden there and it provides a nice decorative touch to a bedroom, living room, family room, great room, dining room or sun room. A round piece of glass can be purchased to set on top of the tablecloth for protection from spills. A large round lace doily or a smaller square piece of contrasting fabric placed over the tablecloth can change the whole appearance.

Use empty decorative ceramic containers for storage, as well as decoration. Examples: Pretty ginger jars, canisters, covered ceramic dishes, vases or teapots.  Large painted milk cans can hold umbrellas.

In the bathroom install shelves to set on top of or above the tank of the commode for additional space. Every bathroom can use more storage and this is an excellent vertical space to use.

Use a hanging shelf that slips over the shower head to hold shampoo, conditioner, and razors.  Racks are also available to hang on the side of a shower, when using an adhesive hook on the tile.

A shallow overhead shelf or two situated up high at the end of the bathtub is another possibility.

Slide under-the-bed boxes -- where else but under the beds!  I'm sure you can think of something to store in those (gifts, out-of-season shoes or clothing, etc.).  If a bed doesn't allow enough height for a box to fit under the mattress, the feet of the bed could be raised up a little on four blocks of wood (about 4" wide with a hollowed out area to hold the feet of the bed).  My husband rounded the corners as well, in order to prevent sore toes that might kick into the wood by accident.

Have you thought of storing things under sofas and chairs with skirts? Yes, even there!  Sofas with skirts are perfect for this, but not so easily found these days.

A shallow cabinet (about one or two inches deep) would be sufficient to hold necklaces and bracelets with cup hooks or even push pins to hold them. Hang it behind a bedroom door where it would be protected by a rubber door stop. A beautiful painting could even be attached to the front. Or use the space in the back of your bedroom closet to hang necklaces and bracelets.

Many closets have wooden strips around the wall for the shelves. Insert push pins into the wood to hang necklaces and bracelets. This works great and keeps them out of sight.

Hang bookshelves along the wall above a desk or computer to make good use of that unused space.

In many homes it would work to enclose the area under the stairs for storage, with a door. It's amazing how much can be stored there.

Inside a closet door, attach lightweight plastic-covered wire shelves designed to slip over the back of a door or fasten onto the inside of the door. This will hold so much and keep all the contents right at your fingertips.

If a closet has too much empty space between the shelves, add another shelf or two for more organized storage and better use of the space.

Look carefully at each closet and find a way to use all the available space. By using baskets, square plastic tubs or plastic shoe boxes (with lids) on closet shelves, they can be stacked to maximize the available space. Be sure to label all containers to make it easy to locate various items.

Under-the-shelf storage can be purchased in plastic-coated wire to be slipped on a shelf to make use of that unused space under the shelf.

Building shelves directly above your washer and dryer is a great idea, because that is normally wasted space. Use either open shelves or enclosed cabinets for laundry supplies and many other items.

Stacking makes use of extra space. At least three six drawer organizers (without the wheels attached, of course) can be stacked to provide organized storage for papers, CD's, DVD's, office supplies, scrapbooking supplies, rubber stamping supplies, sewing supplies, crafts, etc.

Add an extra make-shift shelf to the floor of a closet, simply by raising the shelf up with two bricks on each end. This will provide extra storage space for shoes. Use a board that you stained or painted to match the room.  You could even cover it with fabric or matching contact paper.

In a child's room, stuffed animals could be stored and displayed in mesh, hanging from the ceiling in a corner of the room. You can find fish netting in stores for this purpose.

Shelves built around one or more walls about 12 to 18 inches below the ceiling of a child or teen's room provide not only storage, but decoration as well. The personality and interests of your child can be displayed for your enjoyment and theirs.  This is a good place for trophies as well.

Continue looking for unused space in your home. Hopefully these ideas of finding extra bonus storage space in the home will help us all to be more organized.

Helpful Organizational and Planning Tips and Tricks

by Lois Breneman, © 2006, Heart to Heart

A few organizational and planning tips and tricks that might help make your life a little easier are some I have used for many years.  The cooking substitution list and the medical charts mentioned below are kept taped right inside my kitchen cabinet door, where they are always handy to check or add the latest information.  The seasonal sales are also there, so as I am putting clean dishes away, I can check out the latest on sales, so I can make wise purchases.

List of Doctors' Visits - dentist, mammogram, eye doctor, tetanus shots, etc.  This is very helpful to keep track of when, where and what and scheduling appointments where your insurance covers dental checkups every six months.  Use vertical lines to separate names.  (If you have dental insurance that allows a checkup every 6 months, this is very helpful.)

Illness Chart - Keep a record of illnesses for each family member, listing the names, dates, and illnesses.

Phone with Memory ~ This saves much time.  Keep a record of names and phone numbers that correspond to each number in the memory next to the phone.  If you use a long distance service that requires two sets of numbers to be dialed before the number you are calling, this is perfect for that.  Just a side note on this: for just 2.9 cents per minute on long distance calls, go to www.onesuite.com for information.  This service has saved us a lot over several years. (2011: We are still using this long distance plan!)

List of Frequently Called Phone Numbers ~ On colored paper (card stock is best) write or type an alphabetical list of names and numbers you use most frequently - ones not already in your phone's memory.  Put two pieces of paper together, with numbers on the front and back.  Laminate for a more permanent and useful list to keep handy, near the phone, of course.

Price Book ~ Keep a running list of frequently purchased items, such as facial tissues, toilet tissue, shampoo,
toothpaste, bar soap, liquid soap, food items, food items, etc., along with the best sale prices you have found and the store where you found those items.  This will help prevent you from overpaying.  Then stock up when those items go on sale, being aware that some items have expiration dates.  You will have a great savings if you purchase many items like these only while on sale.

Documentation Notebook ~ Keep a record of orders you place over the phone or Internet, along with payments.  This helps when a bill is questioned and this is better than forgetting and having no record at all.  Keep track of phone numbers, customer service numbers, confirmation numbers, reference numbers and any other information you might need.

Three Handy Lists to Post Inside Your Kitchen Cabinet:
Cooking Substitution List
Measurements
Seasonal Sales

COOKING SUBSTITUTIONS
Flours: To substitute all-purpose flour for cake flour, use 1 cup minus 2 Tbsp. all-purpose for 1 cup cake flour.  To convert plain flour to self-rising, add 1/2 tsp. salt and 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder to each cup of plain flour.  As a thickening for gravy or stew, 1 Tbsp. flour equals 1 1/2 tsp. cornstarch or 1 Tbsp. quick-cooking tapioca.

Baking Powder:  If you're out, use 1/4 tsp. soda plus 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar for each tsp. of baking powder. Or use 1/4 tsp. soda plus 1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk.  This would replace 1/2 cup liquid required in the recipe.

Chocolate:  To substitute for unsweetened chocolate, use 3 Tbsp. cocoa plus 1 Tbsp. shortening, butter, margarine or oil to equal 1 square or 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate.

Dairy Items:  If your recipe calls for sour milk and you have only sweet milk, measure 1 Tbsp. lemon juice or vinegar in a cup and fill with fresh whole milk.  Stir and allow to stand 5 to 10 minutes before using.

Evaporated milk may be substituted for whole milk.  Use 1/2 cup evaporated milk plus 1/2 cup water for each cup of whole milk required.

If you need shredded cheese for a recipe, remember that about 1/2 pound of cheese should yield about 2 cups shredded cheese. Also remember that different cheeses weight different amounts.

For thickening custards or puddings, 2 egg yolks or egg whites have the same thickening power as one whole egg.


MEASUREMENTS
The following measurements equal approximately 1 pound:
2 cups butter or shortening                   
4 cups sifted, all-purpose flour                               
2 1/4 cups granulated sugar                                        
2 1/3 cups powdered sugar (superfine)                     
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar (4x to 10x)                       
2 1/4 cups brown sugar, firmly packed                       
2 1/8 cups rice                                                     
3 3/4 cups whole wheat flour                                        
3 cups corn meal                                                        
5 cups coffee (about)                             
2 cups finely chopped meat                        
9 large eggs (one egg is also about 1/4 cup)
                
1 square cooking chocolate---1 ounce
1 cup molasses---11 ounces (Most liquids are 8 ounces per cup)

Basic Measurements:
3 teaspoons=1 tablespoon
2 tablespoons=1 ounce
4 tablespoons=1 ounce
4 tablespoons=1/4 cup
16 tablespoons=1 cup
4 cups= 1 quart
4 quarts=1 gallon

SEASONAL SALES

JANUARY ~ After-Christmas sales of Christmas merchandise, winter clothes, clothing, shoes, fur, handbags, toiletries, tablecloths, costume jewelry, furniture, toys, dishes, sports equipment, appliances. This is also the month that most stores feature a "White Sale", which includes most bedding such as sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and quilts.

FEBRUARY ~ Furniture, rugs, mattresses, curtains, bedding, china, glassware, silverware, housewares, radios and C.D. players, stereo equipment, and used cars.

MARCH ~ Garden supplies, luggage, spring clothing, infant's wear, shoes, laundry appliances, luggage, skates, ski equipment, storm windows.

APRIL ~ After-Easter sales for mostly clothes items including, men's and boy's suits, women's and children's coats, housecoats, and women's hats.

MAY ~ White sales, clean-up/fix-up supplies, blankets, women's undergarments, TV sets, handbags, sportswear, tires.

JUNE ~ Women's ready-to-wear, TV sets, refrigerators, fabrics, summer clothes, dresses, building materials, lumber.

JULY ~ Shoes, summer clothes, bathing suits, lingerie, sportswear, home appliances, air conditioners, fuel oil, radios and stereo equipment, rugs and carpet, summer sports equipment, used cars.

AUGUST ~ Furniture, white sales, camping equipment, housewares, lamps, coats, tires, lawn mowers, sprinklers, yard tools, barbecue sets and tools, air conditioners, new cars, paints, school supplies, school clothes, bathing suits, fans.

SEPTEMBER ~ Back-to-school supplies, housewares, bicycles, car batteries and mufflers, children's clothing, dishes, gardening equipment, glassware, hardware, lamps, paints, rugs and carpet, tools.

OCTOBER ~ Fishing equipment, glassware, hosiery, housecoats, school clothes, school supplies, silverware, cars. 

NOVEMBER ~ Coats, pre-Christmas items, quilts, shoes, boots, men's and boy's suits, kitchen appliances, water heaters.

DECEMBER ~ Toys, gift items, coats, shoes, party items, quilts, used cars.  The day after Christmas is Bargain Day all over.

A Springboard to Creatively Manage Your Own Unique Home

Do you need a detailed schedule to help organize your home?  

 

Thanks to Rose Shaw in Australia who pointed me to this link, telling how she thought of it as similar to FlyLady, but with a Christian emphasis:  
http://largefamilylogistics.lifewithchrist.org/.  Thanks also to Kim Brenneman for the following excellent information about her link!

It is the blog of Kim Brenneman who with her family owns the website Large Family Logistics. The blog details home management in the life of a large homeschooling family.  The purpose of Large Family Logistics is to help large Christian homeschooling mothers with the daily tasks of home management.

If your family is not large or you are not homeschooling, please do not feel that you are not welcome. There will still be things that apply to your life.  Make the systems fit your family life. Use it as a springboard to creatively manage your unique home.

The Reminder System will help bring discipline to your life through email messages delivered throughout the day. Some of the things that are worked on throughout the days of the week are: cleaning, laundry, kitchen work, home office work, strategic shopping, homeschooling, gardening, preparing for the Lord’s Day, hospitality, service work, crafts. You can sign up for the Reminder System at, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LargeFamilyLogistics/

The website, http://largefamilylogistics.net/ has articles about home management that fill in the details of the Reminder System. There is also a store at the website that serves the unique needs of large homeschooling families.

A Place to Rest Your Memory - from A to Z

by Lois Breneman, © 1999, Revised 2006, Heart to Heart 

 

Anne Ortland explains in her book, "The Disciplines of a Beautiful Woman," about the use of an organizational notebook as a great tool in becoming an organized woman.  There are several methods you could use to rest your memory, based on an alphabetical filing system.  A notebook, a filing system using 3 x 5" or larger index cards in a recipe box, a large filing cabinet system, and your computer file folders are a few ways to rest your memory from A to Z.  When using a computer, a good backup system is essential, because you certainly don't want to lose your information after all your hard work.  The important thing is to find a system that works for you.  Either method will save you much time and frustration! 

 

Here are just a few ideas of suggestions to include in your notebook or filing system: 

 

* When a friend or family member mentions they would like a certain item or service sometime, make a note of it under gifts.  This will really help at birthday or Christmas time or whenever a gift is needed.  Also list gift suggestions for yourself - for when others ask for ideas.

* List things you borrow along with the date, so you can return them promptly.

* List things you loan out, along with the name and date, so you know where books, videos, etc. can be found when you need them. 

 

* Record birthdays and anniversaries either on a heavy card stock master list kept with your assortment of cards - or keep your records on index cards or in your organizational notebook.  Use one card or page for each month.  When there is only one name, you know it's a birthday - if two names, it's an anniversary.  All you need for each month is the name of the month at the top of the card, names and the dates of birthdays and anniversaries as shown below.  If you want to remember the birth or anniversary year, record that after the name.

 

* Record a chart of all doctor's appointments for each family member, after the appointments.  List the name, date, name of the doctor, reason for the appointment and detailed instructions.  It will come in handy when scheduling checkups, and knowing when certain shots were given. 

 

* Keep an up-to-date record of all immunizations, and don't forget that everyone needs a tetanus shot every ten years.

 

* Keep a record of each family member's ailments, regardless of seeing a doctor or not. 

* Make a list of things that might be important for you to carry in your purse.  Here is a list to jog your memory as you decide if it is necessary for your list. 

Example: Keys, driver's license, library card, checkbook, cash, small calendar, nail file, tiny perfume, breath mints, gum, small hand cream, safety pins, tiny sewing kit, small scissors, tissues in tissue holder, lipstick, chapstick, powder compact with mirror, comb, Tylenol for kids, aspirin, Benadryl capsules and a few vitamin E capsules in case of a bee sting, tea tree oil for first aid, a couple band aids, small toothpaste and toothbrush, large index cards for writing down ideas and for postcards (stamps already on), envelope with blank stationery and stamp, pens, measuring tape for measuring waists, etc. at the store or yard sales, eye glasses, sunglasses, coupons, extra keys in change purse.  If you have ever locked your car keys in your house, car or trunk, this next tip may save you a heap of trouble.  Attach your house and car keys to a zipper tab of your purse with a shoestring or sturdy ribbon (black for a black purse, etc.).  This also prevents your keys from getting lost deep inside your purse.   With your purse right beside you as you drive, your keys never need to be detached from your purse.  As long as you keep your purse out of the trunk and out of the car while you are outside, you will be fine.  As for locking yourself out of your house, you may want to find an inconspicious place to hide a key outside of your home. 

 

* Keep a small index card in your wallet with the following information written on it:  license plate numbers, insurance policy number, birth certificate numbers, blood types for each family member, various doctors' phone numbers, husband's work number, and phone numbers of close relatives and friends.  This helps when filling out forms at the doctor's office.  Add whatever is appropriate, but memorize your social security number, rather than having it written out in case of theft.

 

* Store all your Christmas items in boxes and number the boxes.  On an index card, record the contents of each numbered box, and file under "C" for Christmas.  This saves digging.  To save even more time, store all decorations for the living room together, as well as for each room. 

 

* List your obligations or priorities.  This will help you not to have a guilt complex when you know it is in the best interest of your family to say "no" to worthy causes.  List wife, mother of three or _, church responsibilities, school commitments (list homeschooling, carpooling, volunteer work, etc. separately), each taxi obligation, hospitality in your home, caring for a parent or handicapped child, any part-time work, and on and on.  If you sew or make crafts for your family or to use as gifts, take the time to prepare good home cooked meals for your family rather than eating out often, write that down.  Don't spread yourself too thin, or you won't be able to do any of your jobs to the Lord's glory.  Remember to put God first, your husband second, your children third, then other obligations. 

 

* Under trips you can save directions to people's homes - places you might go every two years and may possibly forget in between times.  When you go to your home state, you may need certain phone numbers to take along.  File those under "trips" also.

* File titles of good books to read or buy, when you learn about them. 

 

* If you have a fireproof box or vault in your home or bank, list everything you have inside and file under fireproof box or vault.  Keep a copy of the list in the fireproof box as well.   

 

* Make a list of things to carry in your glove compartment or to keep handy in your car trunk. Example: Proof of car ownership, listing of insurance policy, policy number, agent's name, address and phone number, a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, ice scraper, tire gauge, fuses for car, Tylenol, aspirin, maps, stamps, some change, wash and wipes, scissors, small sewing kit, spare hosiery, nail file, glass cleaner and clean cloths, spare diapers (if this applies), blanket (in winter), etc. 

 

* This method (notebook, index cards, filing cabinets or computer system) can be expanded and used in any way you would like - to record your monthly or long term "To Do" lists, addresses, Christmas ideas, college info (grant, scholarship and loan info, etc.), correspondence (cards and letters sent), crafts (directions as well as crafts I'd like to try), possible sources of income, exercise, gardening, friends I'd like to invite to our home, record of gifts given, health, holidays, home decorating, jobs, meals to freeze or serve on Sundays, politics/voting, nutrition, prayer, priorities, scripture for various topics, seniors, sewing (projects you need/want to do), telephone long distance services, clothing sizes of yourself and family members, wardrobe ideas, things to buy in the future, topical Bible studies, songs, thriftiness tips and ideas, long-term and short-term goals, and various miscellaneous lists.

 

As a bird enthusiast, over the thirty plus years in our home, I have listed fifty varieties of birds seen around our house, and several years ago I began to record the dates as well.  I keep this and other records under lists.  The great part about this A to Z System is that you can make your notebook to suit your own needs and interests.  If you think of other ways to use this system, I would love to hear your ideas!

Conquering Kid Clutter

by Debbie Williams - Debbie@organizedtimes.com - Copyright 2006 - Used by permission

Lack of storage space is the #1 complaint I hear from parents, especially in their kids' rooms. But organizing a child's room is just like de-cluttering any other room in the house: you have four choices: hang it, put it in a drawer, store it on the floor, or shelve it.  Use those same options when organizing your children's rooms.

 

Here are a few of my favorite tips for storage solutions:

 

Create More Floor Space

-  A bed with drawers provides extra storage space and eliminates the need for a bulky dresser or chest
-  Invest in loft beds for the kids with space for a desk
-  Place a bulky chest of drawers in the closet to save wall space

 

General Organizing Solutions

-  Footlockers or old-fashioned steamer trunks hide extra bedding. Be sure to make safe for small children by installing locking safety hinges
-  Under the bed storage bins hold craft items
-  A plastic garbage can topped with a table round makes a bedside or chair side table, and doubles as hidden storage
-  Over the door shelving makes a nice place to store books, children's videos, and audiotapes.
-  Hang a vinyl pouch organizer on the bedroom door or closet door for desk supplies
-  Shoe bags hang on a closet door and contain all those Beanie Babies, Barbies, and action figures

 

Clothing

-  Purchase drawer dividers for socks, underwear, lingerie and tiny items to keep items segregated.
-  Install inexpensive closet organizers for clothing, which can double your closet space
-  Hang another clothes rod in your closet for clothing to utilize hanging storage space
-  Place a laundry basket or hanging bag on the door for each family member.
-  An under bed box is great for outgrown kids' clothes and frees precious closet space. Store or take to resale shop when box is full, then begin again (I recommend buying a plastic tub rather than inexpensive cardboard, which doesn't last very long)
-  Stash out of season clothes in boxes, label, and store in the attic or garage
-  Wicker trunks or footlockers make excellent places for out of season clothes
-  Hanging storage closet systems are colorful and create an instant chest of drawers

 

Papers

-  Two file cabinets can be used to support a desktop for a workspace
-  Filing cabinets for your kids provide a spot for all those papers that seem to take over the house:  school work, pictures, cards, awards and certificates, art projects, report cards
-  Lillian Vernon Catalog sells a corrugated chest with pull out box "drawers". The unit holds six boxes, one for each school year, and provides a safe place for all those school year treasures.  Visit their website at www.lillianvernon.com for ordering information, or to request a catalog.
-  Corral papers and keepsakes safely by storing in a plastic binder. UniKeep ClearView Binders come in a variety of colors and sizes, and fit right in your child's backpack or locker for safekeeping. Visit www.UniKeep.com for more information.

 

These are just a few ways you can contain the clutter in your kids' rooms.  You probably have several tips of your own to add to the list. I almost forgot the best tip of all: have your children sort through their toys and give to those who are less fortunate. What a great way to make room for those new toys and help another child at the same time.

 

About the Author:  Debbie Williams is an author and organizing expert who offers tools and training to help you put your life in order. Learn more practical tips like these in her book, Organized Kidz (By the Book Media, September 2005). Available directly from the publisher at www.organizedtimes.com/OKidz.html or order from Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0972698337

 

Miscellaneous Organizational Tips

by Lois Breneman - 2008 - Heart to Heart

Common sense tips to save time and energy and make your life easier and more productive.

When you have a difficult decision to make, you and your husband may want to list the advantages and disadvantages on paper to help you see the situation in black and white.  This really helps in making wise decisions!

Make a prayer list on large index cards or type out on the computer.  You might alternate several different prayer lists, with some of the same requests listed on each one, as you and your husband pray together, as we do.  Topics include our family, friends, church, pastors, those who have physical or spiritual needs, wayward children, single parents, our country, Christian ministries, missionaries (each card concentrates on a specific part of the world), the Heart to Heart Newsletter, subscribers, and other requests as they arise.

For your own personal Bible study time, some methods that may be helpful are: (1) Read through the Bible;  (2) Study one particular book at a time; (3) Do topical studies - Example: Child Discipline, peace and contentment, the fruit of the spirit, courage, prayer, marriage, forgiveness, work, giving, etc.; (4) Study a verse word by word;  (5) Write down all the verses you have memorized.  Review them;  (6) Write a poem centered around a Scripture verse or doctrine.  (7) Sing hymns and choruses.

Buy or make gifts to keep on hand, for birthdays, weddings, new babies, graduations, etc., so you don't need to run to the store so often, and be tempted to buy more than you should.  If you come across a nice gift that is a real bargain, you might want to purchase that item in multiples to have on hand as gifts.

Store all your gift-wrapping items together - paper, bows, tape, scissors, cards, pen.  A waste can is great for storing rolls of gift wrap.  Plain Christmas gift wrap in a solid green, red, gold or silver is appropriate year round.

Store all your correspondence items in one place: stationery, cards, pens, stamps, return address labels, envelopes, stickers, rubber stamps, etc. 

Plan a day to run errands all at once.  List the places you need to go and what you need to buy or drop off there. This will eliminate back-tracking or forgetting.  Planning your day in a clockwise manner to eliminate as many left-hand turns as possible also saves time and gas.  Apply the same rule to yard sales.  

Learn to double your time by multi-tasking.  While waiting in the doctor's office, for children in a carpool or while watching TV, you could read, scan a book, write a letter, memorize scripture, cross-stitch or do mending.  Or at home you could jump on a trampoline, ride an exercise bike or walk, while you memorize Scripture, pray or listen to a tape.

Choose or make birthday and anniversary cards for friends and relatives for one year at a time.  Address the envelopes, add the return address label, write the special date at the spot where the stamp will go and sign the card.  You may want to embellish the envelope with rubber stamps designs. When it is time to mail the card, add a note or letter, if you wish (or have the time).  If not, lick it, stamp it, mail it and it is done!  Record on your calendar the day you should mail the card, so you remember to mail it on time. 

A large calendar is a great way to keep track of a busy family.  Have everyone write in his or her own appointments in easy-to-spot, different colored inks.  Teenagers should be responsible for getting their activities posted before the day of the activity so plans can be made.  

Use a file folder system.  If you can't keep up with the magazine and newspaper articles, tear them out, fold and file them.  Read them when you can.  This will save on a lot of clutter in your house.  You will know where to look for information when you need it.  Examples of categories: Recipes, Health, Cancer Prevention, Gardening, Children under Two, Children, Teenagers, Religion in the News, Home Schooling, Public Schools, Christian Schools, Alcohol and Driving, Appliances, Warranties, Use and Care Booklets, Roanoke, North Carolina Attractions, Abortion, Interior Design, Colleges, Weddings, Graduation, Marriage, Parenting, Crafts, etc.

Phone numbers to post by your phone:   Time and Temperature, Emergency, Weather, Poison Control, Children's Stories, City or County Extension Agent  (Home Economist and Horticulturist available to answer your questions).

Write or type names and phone numbers of people you call most often on a large colorful index card.  Laminate and keep by the phone.  Make one for each phone in the house.  You will save a lot of time when in a hurry.  Using the computer is an even more efficient way to do this. 

Keep addresses in a recipe box on 3 x 5 index cards. If there is a change, you can keep it up to date by inserting a new card.  No need to erase or cross out. 

Make a weekly schedule of your family's favorite TV and radio programs with the times and stations listed.  There are many educational TV programs which teach cooking, painting, drawing, sewing, gardening, home decorating, vocabulary, science, math, first aid, geography, language, etc.  Many of these are very worthwhile.  There are also many Christian radio and TV programs which are available, though discernment is needed.  By listing special ones that would benefit your family, you would have all that information readily available at your fingertips.

A carrying caddy is nice for cleaning supplies or audio cassette tapes.  They fit exactly. 

The next time you pack for a trip, write up a Packing List on the computer, and print a few copies.  This will save making a list each time, and you'll never forget panty hose, an umbrella or a blow dryer.  Have a section for the various seasons.  List things like "Arrangements for mail and newspaper," with the appropriate phone number or web site to hold your mail or newspaper.   Have teens make their own list and pack for themselves.  

Make or buy a pocket wall organizer to store things that normally make a pile of clutter in most homes.  Clear shoe pocket organizers can work for this.  Label the pockets temporarily with Post It Notes.  After you decide what you want to store in the pockets, you could label in a more permanent way.  Some suggested labels for pockets might be: Menus, Home Schooling, Church, Immediate Attention, Things to File, Receipts, Coupons, Craft Ideas, Correspondence Record, Gifts Given, Cute Quotes from Kids, Quotes & Poems, Money Saving Ideas, Items Ordered, Refunding, Grocery List, Youth Group, Pens, Index Cards, Scissors, etc.  

Shelf expanders are great if you need more room for storage.  Check department stores.

Clear storage boxes are nice for storing children's clothing, toys, seasonal decorations, extra knick knacks, you name it! 

Clear plastic shoe pocket organizers are great for inside the coat closet for gloves, scarves, umbrellas, sunglasses. They are also great inside the hall closet for small medical supplies so you can see them at a glance for Band-Aids, small tubes of meds, thermometer, bulb syringe, and samples from mail.  Being able to see things at a glance is important.

Clear plastic shoe boxes are also nice for storage.  Sturdy cardboard shoe boxes (labeled) also work well.  Cover with fabric and glue into place for nice looking stackable storage!  

Shoe boxes make great gift boxes. Cover the lid with wrapping paper.  Wrap the box separately.  If you need a quick gift, just get a gift from your box with pre-purchased or pre-made gifts, and put it in your pre-wrapped box with some tissue paper!  Here's where your organization pays off! 

If you need a filing cabinet, purchase the deepest one you can find.  The same amount of wall space is needed, no matter how deep, so you might as well get the maximum use.

Keep scrap paper and a pen handy - near each phone, in your bedside stand, as well as in the bathroom.  You'll be surprised at all the ideas you'll have while putting on your makeup or lying in bed.  Jot them down.  A dull pencil in this case is better than the sharpest mind.

A divided tray can be used as a makeup tray. 

Bricks are helpful in raising up items in the back of a deep shelf so you can see everything at a glance.  Cover bricks with contact paper, if you wish. 

Small pieces of scrap lumber are useful in creating more shelf space.  Stand two pieces of 2 x 4" scraps on their sides.  Lay a divided tray or a board for a shelf over the top, and you have an extra shelf. 

Small baskets are handy for storing all kinds of things.  If your grocery store displays fruits or vegetables in baskets, go early in the morning and ask if you may have the empty baskets, if they just toss them.  Our grocery store used to have mushroom baskets that were free for the asking.  Cloth liners could be sewn for them to be used for many different items. 

Rubbermaid turntables are great for spices (in alphabetical order like at the store, so you can find them easily), medicine, cleaning supplies, etc.  Check the dollar stores for these too.

Desk organizers help to keep paper clips, rubber bands, etc. orderly.  Tiny boxes in a desk drawer also work well to separate items.  Stationery and jewelry boxes work. 

Six drawer organizers are great organizational and storage helpers!  Multiple uses!

Have two clothes rods in your closet halfway across (upper for blouses and lower for skirts).  Lower the rods in a child's room so he/she can reach them.

Vertical storage for socks and underwear works great!  Store socks in drawers, folded in half, with heels always to the same side for neatness. Stand a pile of socks on their side, with socks back to back to each other.  Use small boxes in a drawer to separate from other clothing items, if necessary.  Underwear and boxer shorts both work well if folded into thirds (left side to center, right side to center, then folded in half the other way.  Store in drawer in the same manner as the socks - on end.  Handkerchiefs store neatly in this manner as well.  This method helps keep a drawer neat and gives visibility to every item in the drawer!  Works great!

You may want to keep a weight chart for you and your husband, so you know when you need to cut down and lose a few pounds.  Then again, you may not!

A neat and orderly way to store necklaces and bracelets is by hanging them on push pins stuck into a bulletin board, cork board, or the side or back wall of your closet.  They are out of sight if using the inside of your closet and don't collect dust.

Store your earrings in a shallow drawer.  First line the drawer with a towel or piece of fabric that will not slide around.  Place your earrings in groups according to color.  This makes them easy to find at a glance.

If you have ever locked your car keys in your house, your car or your trunk, attach your house and car keys to your purse with a matching shoestring, sturdy ribbon or a key clip.  This also prevents your keys from getting lost inside your purse.  Keep an extra set of keys in your wallet, as well, in case you lock your keys in the car.  Then hang on to your purse!