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How To Expand Storage Space Easily

If you have limited space already, or just need some more, there are more ways to gain extra space without building an addition to your home.  You can easily go out and purchase an extra stand alone cupboard or a shelving unit, but that just adds to the sometimes already cluttered areas that you are trying to clean up in the first place.  Need a good solution?
Try the Under Shelf Storage Basket

It adds enough space in your pantry if you need, and still looks nice enough to put out in the open. These attach very easily and work great.

As always, Art.

Colorful Clips Organize Everything

So, have you done your taxes yet? I found the perfect way to organize all my receipts, etc. I use Everything Clips. They hold more than paper clips and their bright colors make it easy to separate paperwork by category (donations, interest income, etc.). These clips are also great for use in the kitchen. As a matter of fact, that is their primary use, but I like to think outside the box.

Tax time is less than a month away so don’t delay.

Until next time… Ann

“I’m proud to be paying taxes in the United States. The only thing is—I could be just as proud for half the money.” – Arthur Godfrey

Apartments and Roomates; Saving Space

I have lived in the same 2 bedroom apartment for 2 years.  It’s not a bad spot and there is quite a bit of room.  My girlfriend and I have always used the second bedroom as more of a storage area and an extra closet.  If there isn’t enough room in the main closet for something, we always put it in the other.  Recently I took a look in that closet, not just to toss something in and shut the door quickly, but I actually looked through it.  There is stuff in there that I hadn’t seen since we moved into the place.

Usually we wait till spring to do the “spring cleaning”, hence the name.  But I don’t think this can wait.  In another few months the closet could become so full that the poor doors will no longer be able to handle the weight, and we could have a more serious mess on our hands.  It’s time for a little closet organization.

This is not a new problem for home owners, renters, vacationers, leasers, or even squatters.  Home organization is tiring and can be a little expensive.  You first have to see the problem for what it is and then find the remedy, which at some mega stores and shopping super-centers finding the remedy may be difficult.  Surprisingly, these stores do not necessarily offer the greatest deals either.  Plus, if you buy a large item, such as a portable closet, you have to carry it to your car, load it, unload it, and then get it in the house before you even set it up.  Seems like a lot of work, just to do some more work.

I know closet organization isn’t necessarily the most fun job in the world, but neither is taking out the trash.  They both have to get done sooner or later.  If you are in a similar canoe, you may want to click here to check out a few closet organizers.  I’m already on the road to organization, unless I hit a detour, because it’s definitely a path under construction.  Wish me luck.

As Always, Art.

New Year Dissolutions

We all tend to set goals for the new year. Most of them are relatively achievable, but for some reason they become destitute of motivation by early February. It’s easy to become off track and not complete those goals. I have always heard to start with smaller goals. Once those are achieved and you feel more motivated, you can use that motivation to attack larger goals, goal’s that may take more time and energy. But it starts with positive reinforcement. This year, for me, it’s household organization. It’s interesting too, because on the home page of Always-Free-Shipping.com, the president, Janet, has written a bit about that same topic. There are some great organizational products within the website, but my favorite has to be the Dresser Drawer Dividers. It works great to keep good shirts from play shirts, sweat socks from dress socks, and nice pants from the casual ones. It has truly made mornings easier, saving me the hassle of digging through my large antique dresser drawer’s for appropriate attire for the day. It’s a small goal, but its a great one to start with!

As always, Art.

They are super easy to install too!

Mad For Magazines (a.k.a. why my mailman hates me)

Do you love catalogs and magazines as much as I do? In my case, the love of these periodicals has gotten a bit out of control. You know how it goes. You order one catalog, it turns to two and the next thing you know you get dozens a week. It had gotten so out of control at my household that I had to start unsubscribing to them. I am up to over 200! Now I am very picky about what I choose to keep. I use these Magazine Organizers to hold the “keepers” in a tidy and organized way. I love how colorful and sturdy they are. My next task? Only getting the catalog emails I really want (like the always-free-shipping.com one of course!).

Until next time… Ann

“The question about those aromatic advertisements that perfume companies are having stitched into magazines these days is this: under the freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment, is smelling up the place a constitutionally protected form of expression?”
-Calvin Trillin, American writer

Cluttered Closets

My latest venture is organizing my messy walk-in closet. This is no small task mind you. Step one – new hangers, all in the same color. Step two: group clothes by color. Step three: get rid of clothes I never wear, don’t fit or that I will never fit into. Step four: admire the great job I did! Luckily for me, I can get my hangers and natural moth repellents from here. When I’m done, I might even post some pics – that’s how proud I will be! Wishing you luck in your own closet cleaning adventures!

Until next time… Ann

“Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the sidewalk before it stops snowing.”

-Phyllis Diller

Garage Greatness, Take 2

I tackled cleaning my garage this weekend. I’ve done this before. Usually, I end up moving things from the garage to my shed. This back and forth had to stop. It was time to get tough and start sorting things to be given away, thrown out or donated. A lot of garage and garden items are oddly shaped. I wasted quite a few garbage bags until I decided to give the Hefty Ultra Flex Bags a try.These bags are 20% thicker than other bags,they hold more and best of all – they’re puncture proof! I highly recommend them. My garage is looking fabulous by the way.

Until next time… Ann

“Only in America do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.” -author unknown

Bed Blocks raise the bar for shoe fanatics!

Shoe storage is a must for the shoe-a-holic! I’ve come up with plenty of ways to hide, I mean store, my addiction over the years. The problem is that if I can’t get to them easily, they become obsolete before I can truly enjoy them.  What’s the fun in that. I found these bed blocks, which allow me to easily store shoes, boots, etc. neatly under my bed, creating a whole area that had previously been untapped! Try them – you’ll love them!

Store More Behind The Door!

My house is fairly small, so I’m always looking to maximize space. I noticed that always-free-shipping.com has a new category called Extra Storage Space. How perfect! There are all sorts of clever items that make the most efficient use of space. I mean, I even know of people with HUGE homes that still need that little bit of extra area to be more organized.

In particular, I find myself drawn to to the Overdoor Storage Rack and Purse Storage Rack. I have a tiny galley kitchen, so I need all the extra room I can get. And, as far as the purse storage rack, I have to admit that my shopping addiction created that collection. At least now I can see at a glance what I have.

Check out this new category. I think you’ll find some interesting storage solutions. I know I did!

-Until next time…Ann

“The secret of all victory lies in the organization of the non-obvious.”

- Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius

Food Storage Made Easy

Have you ever pulled a food storage container out of the cupboard, only to spend the next 20 minutes trying to find the matching lid? Well if you have, you will love this new item I have found for you. It is the Farberware Citrus colored storage set. There is a 20 pc. and a 50 pc. set depending on your needs. The benefits of this item go on and on. First, they color coded each size so you always know what lid will fit what container. Next, they put a built in dating system on each container, so you can tell how long the food has been in there. The lids are also “burpable” so you can get the air out and prolong the freshness of the food. To top it all off, is the storage. The containers nest within each other and they throw in a lid organizer so you never have to search for a lid again. They all fit nicely in the tray next to your bowls. Now that you have saved all of this time digging through your cupboards, go enjoy doing something you love! Look for these items soon.

Scott