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

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.

An Organized Pantry

by Monica Resinger, Plantldy98@aol.com, http://homemakersjournal.com, Used by permission

One night I was making burritos for dinner. I went to grab refried beans out of the pantry and couldn't find any. Later, while cleaning out the pantry, I found some. If the pantry had been organized to begin with, I would have been able to find the refried beans and save my husband a trip to the neighborhood store, saved money as refried beans at the neighborhood store are not cheap and lots of frustration. Another problem with a cluttered, unorganized pantry is waste. I found spilled flour, noodles, Jello and cornmeal packages.

So, in an effort to improve myself and knowing what I had done in the past wasn't working, I put some thought into how I could create a better system. Here's what I came up with:

Assign a Home to Each Item

Assign a home to each different type of item. For example, have one shelf for cereals, another for canned foods, another for spices and another for prepared boxed meals such as macaroni and cheese. If you have to, you can split up a shelf for two different foods. Be sure to keep multiples of foods together so you can see at a glance how much of something you have.

Get Rid of Dead Space

Make sure your shelves don't have too much ‘dead space'. Dead space is unused space which is usually found above what you are storing. For example, when I was putting my canned food away on the canned food shelf, I noticed I couldn't stack two regular sized (about 15 oz.) cans one on top of another, but there was a lot of empty space above the cans (dead space). So I adjusted the shelf up a couple of inches so now I have room to stack two regular size cans and there is less dead space. This made a tremendous difference--I could now get all canned foods onto this shelf rather than have them scattered throughout the pantry.

Creative Containers

Find canisters or other holders for noodles, flour, sugar, rice, popcorn or other food that comes in plastic or paper bags. I used to store the opened bag of rice (or other plastic or paper bagged food) right in the opened bag (closed with a twist-tie) which always lead to spills. Now I use canisters, empty coffee cans, glass jars, and other containers to hold these items for no mess. If you use pretty glass jars (which you can find at thrift stores), you can store noodles, rice, split peas or other attractive food in them and display on your counter to save pantry space. Finally, put taller items in the back. This makes finding things easier.

The effort you put into organizing your pantry can be very rewarding. It will save you time, frustration and money. It is so nice to be able to open the door and see everything organized (or just being able to see everything without a can falling on your head or toes).

How Can I Avoid Refrigerator Clutter?

by Debbie Williams - www.OrganizedTimes.com - Used by permission

        Anyone who spends any time at all in a kitchen quickly learns about refrigerator art: what it is, how it's displayed, and who created it. If your refrigerator is anything like that of other parents, it's plastered with kid art, the family calendar, homework assignments, soccer schedules, doctor's appointment reminders, and.... that's just the front!

         My refrigerator is full, too, but I gave up rearranging those teeny magnets ages ago. No sooner would I get six of them to hold up one tiny school picture, than SLAM - there went the whole arrangement crashing to the floor. Below are some of my favorite tricks of the trade to start taming the fridge clutter bug in your home:

         Art du Jour - Instead of turning the front of your refrigerator into an art gallery, why not limit artwork to one per artist, saving the remaining paintings for Grandma or the scrapbook. Rotate the pictures daily or weekly, store in a tag board portfolio beside the refrigerator, and then move them to a more permanent home (like a treasure box or scrapbook). Hint: place your budding artists in charge of this project, letting them choose one day a week to change out the artwork. Create a "home" for undisplayed work to live after it has served time in the magnetic gallery.

         Photo Mat - Consider using magnetic-backed acrylic frames to display your favorite snapshots. These come in various sizes for your photos, from wallet to 8x10. Or consolidate your pictures into a collage mat. Purchase these ready-made from catalogs, or make your own by backing them with heavy-duty magnet sheets purchased from your local craft or discount store.

        Clip Art - Purchase extra-strong magnetic clips to hold important papers. Think of this as a vertical clipboard where you can post grocery list, soccer schedule, homework assignments, signed field trip releases, and copies of your latest dietary requirements. Not only does this conserve precious space, but also if your magnet is strong enough, you can just flip through to the page you need with little rearranging.

        Chore Charts - Eliminate the need for repeated note posting and use a pint-sized chore chart for your family. I found a small wipe-off board shaped like a pencil in the school supply section of a local discount store, complete with grids, stickers, and erasable marker. This particular product is backed with strong magnets, but you can easily improvise and add your own to a poster or homemade chart. If your kids are small, you may want to hang this high to avoid creative rearrangements of the stickers.

         ABCs and 123s Please - Let's take a quick poll to see how many sets of plastic alphabet magnets you purchased before your kids reached adolescence - anyone? I'll bet that if you pulled out the refrigerator from the wall or used a coat hanger, you could fish out enough ABCs to write the Gettysburg Address. Why not use an alphabet poster instead, with medium-strength magnets attached to the back? Take a quick road trip to your local school supply, and you will find posters on any subject that your child is interested in: alphabet (upper and lower), numbers (1-10, 10-20), farm animals, manners, The 5 Senses, etc. I think you get the picture - it's much easier to corral a poster than a menagerie of plastic parts. Once Junior is old enough to use those plastic letters for spelling words, he's outgrown the fridge easel anyway, and can easily use a laptop magnetic board or one that is mounted on his wall.

        With a bit of creativity and a lot of consolidation, you can regain control of your refrigerator for the purpose it was intended: to keep foods cool or frozen, and provide nutritional snacks for your family. But don't ask me if that little light really does stay on when you close the door. I haven't managed to figure that one out yet.
______________________________________
Debbie Williams is a parent educator and founder of the online organizing site, OrganizedTimes.com . She is the author of Home Management 101 and Put Your House In Order: A Study Course for Christian Home Managers.   www.organizedtimes.com
www.organizedtimes.com/column.htm
 

From the Cleaning Expert - Oh That Tupperware!

by Denise as posted in Homefires Hearth - 2001
Used by permission

     Ok, so it's probably not all Tupperware.  Much of the mess is containers that held everything from Cool Whip to yogurt to soft margarine.  But you know what that cabinet looks like and so do I.  Open the door and it all falls out.  Actually consider using some of it, and it's an all out effort to find the right lid for the right bowl.  Some of it is broken, or the lid didn't fit in the first place, and there are the odd pieces that have either a lid with no bowl or a bowl with no lid.
     
This is going to seem so ridiculously simple that you'll think it's sarcastic, but I'm serious.  Get rid of at least half of it.  Maybe more like three quarters of it.  As we work toward cleaning and decluttering, it seems that some places need to be addressed time and again.  The cabinet for storage of plastic bowls is one of those places for almost everyone.  Those things multiply like bunnies.  It's not helping anything to have a whole bunch of them, though, because it makes too much to sift through to find exactly what is needed.  So start by pulling out everything in that cabinet and trashing all of the containers and lids used to package food. There are too many different sizes and styles and it is impossible to keep them straight.
    
Now sort through all the remaining plasticware.  Warped lids, cracked and melted bowls, all go into the trash. Saving those things for "emergencies" only clutters up the storage space.  Now put the appropriate lid on each remaining bowl.  It's almost certain that there will be widows left.  Unless there is a pretty good chance that the mate will turn up, they get pitched, too.  Tupperware will sell lids and bowls separately, so if it's a valuable piece it might be worth buying a replacement part.  Otherwise, let it go.
     
This little exercise has probably greatly narrowed the amount of space needed to store what's left.  But heed one more culling criterium: How many could anyone possibly need?
     
Ah ha.  There it is.  The hard part of customizing.  The secret to this problem inevitably lies in how long things languish in the refrigerator.  Ninety percent of what gets stored in plastic bowls will go to the refrigerator.  Limiting the supply of available storage bowls is a good way of limiting the amount of time leftovers have to evolve into something nasty.   If the bowls don't have to sit a long time, they're available to be used again.  This is a good motivator to at least keep the leftovers rotated.  That's not as big a job as actually cleaning it out.
     
I found a system that has room for improvement, but is working better than anything else so far.  After getting the supply pared down to only the good quality plasticware that also had all matching pieces, leave the lids on each piece.  Just tight enough to make them stay in place, but not really sealed.  Then, stack similarly shaped items together: rectangles, round, and square.  A plastic basket holds very small, one cup or less, size containers because they tend to go everywhere.  Everything else is neatly stacked and stays fairly well that way because there's no need to root around.
     
I did keep a couple of larger food containers, two sherbet bowls and two 5 qt. ice cream buckets.  They are a nice size for various uses, stack well, and I didn't have better quality things of the same size. They don't get used often but when they are needed it's great to have them.
     
There was one last need that didn't become apparent until sometime after this reorganizing was finished.  There are times when what's required is a throwaway container suitable for sending food home with people.  For these, the new Zip-loc or Gladware containers are great. Once I realized the oversight, it was a simple matter to pick up a couple of packages in different sizes and put those in the back of the cabinet.  Because they are packaged to fit well together, they don't take up much space and I never set them toward the front.  Nobody else will bother to dig for them!
     
Each kitchen has its own requirements.  The cabinet where plasticware is stored is a bugaboo in most kitchens, but putting some thought into making it work better will yield some needed efficiency in the kitchen.  Give it a try!

Notes from Lois:
*Another method of storing larger lids is to stand them on end in a plastic shoe box to keep them organized - keep them right next to the coordinating pots and pans or containers.

*I  have quite a few Rubbermaid containers that I use in my husband's lunches for soups, leftovers and salads that he takes to work.  By storing them inside each other in a shallow drawer on their sides with all the lids at the end, they stay organized.  I also have a long rectangular tray in that drawer which was made for storing audio tapes, but I use it to store those small Tupperware lids--they line right up in there.

*Speaking of Tupperware and lunches, the midget cups are perfect for packing lunches ahead of time.  You can pack raisins, nuts, sunflower seeds, peanut butter for dipping celery or apple slices into or salad dressings in those.  In fact, you can find all kinds of reasons to use them, including trips!

*Be watching at yard sales for Tupperware in great condition to replace warped lids, rather than ordering new ones.

*Rather than storing so many little bits of leftovers in the refrigerator, where they may be forgotten (and look like pussy willows before long), use one of those Cool Whip tubs in your freezer to save leftovers for a delicious "Free Soup."  This can include any leftover vegetables, pasta, meats, broths, etc. and will make a melodious stew with great flavors.  Try it!  If you like soup, you will love this!  When the container is full, just heat it up and add to it, if necessary.

*Save those soft margarine tubs, especially the smaller ones and make up your own healthier butter.  Blend 2 1/2 pounds of real butter (10 sticks) with 1 cup olive oil and add a little salt to taste.  Then pour into the margarine containers and freeze or refrigerate.  When a container of butter is in use, keep it at room temperature for easy spreading.  Delicious and better for you than margarine!  With fresh hot baked bread, there is nothing better!
 

Kitchen Organizing Tips

KITCHEN ORGANIZING TIPS

 
by Debbie Williams, copyright 1999 - More Details at: www.organizedtimes.com - Used by permission

Did you know that 20% of the total items in your kitchen are used 80% of the time.

Wow! If we only use 20% of the stuff in our junk drawers and pantry, then why on earth do we think we need MORE storage space? That's a good question, and I'd like to offer a few tips to help you reclaim some of that precious cabinet space in your own kitchen.

*** Take Note!! Since most of you use some sort of calendar in the kitchen for the family to view, I recommend buying a magnetic clip for the frig to hold all those lists in place: grocery list (from Let's Get it Together, of course), toiletries list, freezer inventory, etc.

*** Take Stock!! Keep a current inventory of your freezer (especially if you do bulk cooking) on the side of the frig. Use a pencil so you can erase items as they are used. You'll love this feature if you ever have the flu and someone has to feed your hungry brood - after all, there's only so much take-out pizza a body can stand in one week!

*** Stack it Up!! Use plastic or wicker "in" baskets and "go vertical" to utilize that counterspace. Don't spread, stack! I use a wicker "in/out" box for my husband's corner of the kitchen for his incoming mail and forms to be signed. He places them in the "out box" below for me to process. I'm the neatie, he's the messy, and this is working fine for now. When it stops working, we'll move on to another system that works for the BOTH of us!

Buy wire shelves for pantries and cabinets at your discount store. These double the space for dishes, pots, and pans. Get lid organizers and baking tray racks to store your stackable (and noisy) pots and pans.

*** Hang on!! Use over-the-door hangers or door-mounted holders for pantry items to keep them displayed. Not only can you create your own pantry, but you don't have to rummage through deep cabinets to find a small box of baking soda. 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. Think "motor home" and "RV", and you can get some creative ideas for your own kitchen.

*** No more junk drawer?? No way! Some folks think it's against the laws of the great organizing geru to have a junk drawer, but perhaps they don't live with kids! Just use any type of plastic basket or cutlery organizer for your junk drawer, and clean it out the first day of each month. You really don't need 25 pens in that one drawer, do you? Send them to the craft box and the kids will have a blast with them! In fact, put those little "sorters and counters" to work with a fun math game and let THEM clean out your junk drawer. I used to get a quarter for doing this. Is that considered my first client as a professional organizer? (Thanks, Mom!)

*** Make it Pretty!! Since counter space is premium in our homes, don't display all your pretties on the countertop - hang pictures rather than resting them on the easels. Consolidate those frig photos with a magnetic "mat", or just adhere a magnetic sheet to each picture for your own photo magnets. No more falling on the floor each time the refrigerator door is slammed! Store tall items in a crock or your favorite pitcher (wooden spoons, spatula, etc.). This is making double duty out of your favorite things, and saving space in those drawers that we never have enough of.

Since families spend almost as much time in the kitchen as they do in the "family room", this is one area of the home that experiences constant change. Find a system of paper management and organizing that you think you'll really use, try it for 6-8 weeks, and if it doesn't work, go to Plan B. Do give it a few weeks to see if you can change your ways, though. And don't be afraid to try another system, rather than giving up on yourself entirely. What works in one period of your life may not work in the next one, and you have the added challenge of finding a system that works for the entire family. Be open to change, and to suggestions from other family members, even the smallest of ones have wonderfully creative ideas. And aren't they the largest contributors to the system anyway?!