Prodcut Feature- Rubbermaid Bento Containers

As I was dream-shopping in the container section of Target today, I came across these neat boxes from Rubbermaid.  They're called Bento.  

What makes these containers special is the flexible dividers inside.  You can leave the divider flat against the sides for a traditional  fabric storage container.  

Or, you can flex open one strong divider for one small section and one larger section.  

Or, you can use both dividers and have 4 smaller sections.  

How neat!  I really like this idea!  

One of my problems with traditional fabric storage bins is the lack of dividers.   

Usually things are just thrown in.  I want to be able to find the smaller items without taking all of the larger items out first.  That drives me crazy!

The Bento storage containers are sturdy, stack-able, come in small, medium, and large sizes, and have lots of possibilities.  

I'm thinking of getting one or two for my hubby's dresser.  If you saw it, you'd agree! :)

We'll keep thinking & designing for more ways to Get It All together.

What do you think of these new containers?  Have you seen them before?

 

Functional Before & After

 Today’s Before & After isn't so much about the dramatic looking difference.  It’s more about functionality. 

In the Before photo, it doesn't look too bad.  The vertical space is being used wisely.  The closet door still shuts and all three items have a home.

The problem:

The items were hanging by nails and when the door swung open or shut, all 3 items swung with the door, falling off, getting tangled, or jammed the door from closing.

How aggravating!  My kids were especially annoyed and whined for a solution.

Here’s what I came up with:

This hook set was wasting away on the wall above the dryer.  It was in a terrible location (from a previous owner who must have rearranged things before they left).  

It couldn't be used because there wasn't enough space between the dryer and the wall.  

So, it got taken down and moved to the back of the closet door.  Thanks, hubby!  (He’s much better with the electric drill than I am!)

The re-purposing took less than 10 minutes (once the hubby helped) and it works so much better!  

The kids will be thrilled the next time they help sweep the kitchen…sort of.  :)

Remember when designing a space to look around the house and see what you can re-purpose.  

It may be your $0 Budget Solution that helps your household Get It All Together.

Spring Break!

It's Spring Break!  

I'll be taking this week off, cleaning, organizing, and enjoying time with my family.

Have a great week & I'll see you back here next Monday with more inspiration on 

Getting It All Together.

Spring Cleaning- One Chore a Day

I was reading an article from HGTV.com and discovered a great calendar with a daily tip for spring cleaning your house. 

I really appreciate simple, daily tips.  They help keep me on track without overwhelming me and my ever-growing to-do- list.  


Today's tip is to "Lose the Magnets."  




The refrigerator is a magnet for attracting clutter (haha!) and weighing down a perfectly clean kitchen. 

It's easy to see from these pictures that it's definitely time to "lose the magnets" and de-clutter.

It's true- when you spruce up the refrigerator your whole kitchen seems cleaner, brighter, more free, and less cluttered.  

So, it's time to throw out the expired coupons and take-out menus, move art work to its more permanent home, and tidy things up a bit.  

I always like to: 

1. Take everything off
2. Wipe it all down so it's clean & shiny :)
3. Decide what really stays and what goes
4. Carefully put back what's necessary, not cluttered

Take today's HGTV.com calendar challenge and start your Spring cleaning today.  Your entire kitchen will thank you and you'll be one step to closer to Getting It All Together this Spring.

Product Feature: The Container Store's Long Underbed Box with Wheels

Here’s today's dilemma:

Not enough storage space for the kids’ blankets and toys.  The closet isn’t really an option and there is already a tight budget that won’t allow for additional shelving.  What’s one solution?

Under the bed storage!

The Container Store carries these under-bed storage containers called, 

“Long Underbed Box with Wheels” and they are the Product Feature of the day.

 

Product Claims:

"Utilize the storage space under your beds with our Long Underbed Box with Wheels. Designed and molded to our exacting specifications, our box is made from clear, virtually unbreakable polypropylene to provide uncompromised visibility of the contents. Each box features an easy-open, locking lid and wheels that can be installed to allow the box to roll in either of two directions. The extended length allows you to store oversized and extra long items with ease.

Made from the clearest, virtually unbreakable, acid-free polypropylene available"

              -courtesy of The Container Store.com

Does it really live up to its claims?

Easter Candy Overload

Easter was yesterday and you know what that means for today....lots of leftover candy.  

Today that may be okay.  But by Wednesday, all that candy laying around will mean real trouble.  What do you do with it (besides eat it and gain 10 pounds)?


Here are a few options to think about:

• Throw it out!-  This might not make the kids happy, but it will definitely save you a few pounds.

• Hide it-  I'm not really a big candy eater.  I do like to have a piece or two occasionally.  For years I've hidden/saved one holiday's candy until the next, eating a piece or three when I wanted it.  It allowed me to get it "out of sight, out of mind" and stretch out the calories.

• Take it to work/church/school- Who dosen't love to see a welcoming candy dish on your office desk?  It can brighten a visitor's day and help make the day a little sweeter.

• Decorate another project with it- This is one of my favorite ideas.  I like to get creative with food and this is a really fun way.  Once you're done you could eat it, but I usually like to toss it if it's been on display for a while.  Check out our Easter creation that we made for dessert.  It was so much fun for the kids to help with and it made a great dessert to share with our visiting family.

Check out these other amazing ideas from Delish.com:

   






How's that for inspiration?! 


Whether you throw it out, share it, hide it, or get creative, you're sure to be one step closer to Getting it All Together.
 

Product Review: Frog Tape

If you’ve ever watched HGTV, you already know the

cheapest design method to dramatically change a room is to…PAINT!

Painting is exactly what I’ve been up to lately. 

 

This time I’ve taken on an ambitious painting project- paint all of the trim in the entire house.  (sigh!)  Luckily, our house doesn’t have as much square-footage as some.  (Hooray! )

I haven’t had much success with blue painter’s tape in the past.  It takes so much time to prep and it tends to bleed through, creating messy lines that drive me crazy (grrr!!).  Normally, I prefer to use a steady hand and a damp rag to create crisp, professional-looking lines.

But, with this daunting project in front of me, I was willing to revisit the tape option and see what was new on the market.

 

Here’s what I found: Frog Tape.  

It was a little more expensive than the blue stuff I’m used to seeing.  It was just under $10 at Wal-Mart for a huge roll with 60 yards. 

Would it live up to its promises?