Organizing Summer Fun when Everyone is Bored - Indoor or Outdoor Decathlon

   
As I do each summer, I'm going to blog about some creative summer fun ideas you can use throughout the summer. Today's is an outdoor or indoor decathlon. An indoor decathlon is ideal for those those experiencing this summer's heat wave! A little heat is no reason not to have fun! I'll be posting more crazy ideas as the summer goes on. Now on to our post for today ...

"I'm bored!" My response is usually, "Sorry, that's your choice!" Over the years, I've come up with some activities to do when there doesn't seem to be anything to do. Most of these I've made up or adapted from other ideas. Sometimes merely reframing ordinary activities creates fun! Here's one I've used with adults and kids for years.

Indoor or Outdoor decathlon: 
10 games - a combination of silly games and games of skill. 
See possible games below.

Getting organized:

I keep the list of games a secret. Then it's a series of surprises.

Gather all the supplies needed for each game ahead of time.

Create a box or bag of prizes.

Create a score sheet chart with each person listed and each game listed.

After each game, record the scores. If you have five people playing, the person who comes in first gets five points, 2nd place gets 4 points, etc.

After all 10 events are played, the person with the most points is first, etc. #1 get to choose a prize first, #2 second, etc.

Possible games - adjust to kids' ages and whether you're playing indoors or oudoors:
dropping clothespins in a bottle
horse (basketball)
elimination bocce ball
bubble gum blowing contest
tossing a coin into a muffin tin
bowling with a toy bowling set
paper airplane making/flying
frisbee golf
croquet
bouncing a tennis ball on a tennis raquet
tossing a tennis ball into a waste basket
ladderball
relays
balancing a ball on your finger
Pass the Pigs game
Boggle
Uno
Skip-bo
pin the _____ on the _____
elimination jenga
paper balls into a waste basket

The sillier the better! Enjoy!

More on summer fun:
Organizing Summer Fun - 10 Free (or nearly free) Activities for Kids
Organizing Summer Fun - 50 Ideas for Your Summer Bucket List
Organizing Summer Fun - Michael's Passport to Imagination

 

Washington Post: Get Organized for Your Vacation

  
Hope you had a great 4th! We had a wonderful time entertaining friends and relaxing. Love a four-day weekend!

Here's some great vacation organizing advice from Nicole Anzia featured in the Washington Post.

"Summer is here, and so are the vacations we’ve been anticipating for months. But before the fun can begin, we have to conquer packing and get out of our houses without having a nervous breakdown.

Before you leave

Don’t wait until the last minute to start packing. It sounds obvious, but there is always so much to do before a trip — tying up loose ends at work, boarding pets, clearing out the refrigerator — that sometimes we end up just tossing a bunch of stuff into a bag at the last minute.

Start preparing early by making a detailed list of what you need to bring and buy. Then as you’re running errands in the days before you depart, you’ll know exactly what you need. Make your list thorough and include everything from underwear to sunglasses. A week before you leave, take clothes to the dry cleaners. Wash the rest of the clothes you’re packing at least two days in advance.

Write your packing list on a piece of paper or buy a packing list template like Knock Knock’s Pack This! Pad ($6.50, www.knockknockstuff.com) that requires only that you check off the pertinent items for your trip. For people who prefer a paperless method, Packing Pro is a well-regarded app that allows you to update your list on the go ($2.99, available for iPhone, iPod and iPad, www.itunes.com).

Tell family and trusted neighbors where you are going, how long you’ll be gone and how to reach you. Arrange for someone to collect your mail and newspapers or put a hold on them while you’re away.

Smart packing

Remember when we didn’t have to worry about bag fees, long security lines and three-ounce bottles? Although those rules and restrictions have made traveling more of a hassle, they also have the benefit of requiring us to pack more thoughtfully.

The maximum size for a carry-on at most airlines is 45 linear inches (height plus width plus depth), and the maximum weight is 40 pounds. Don’t pack the kitchen sink. Contact your hotel or host to ask whether they provide things like a hair dryer, iron or beach towels. Think through the outfits you’ll need and choose a central color to pack around. Brown, black and tan are good options that can be easily accessorized with brightly colored items. Bring items that can be repurposed or layered to create different outfits. And remember, in many places you can do laundry while you’re away, so pack individual detergent packets and a travel stain-treatment stick. A compact laundry bag will keep your dirty items separate from the clean ones (Reisenthel travel laundry bag, $3.99-$4.99, www.containerstore.com).

Wear your bulkiest shoes, sweater and jacket to save space. Pack any other shoes on the bottom of your bag and put smaller items inside them to save space and keep their shape.

Roll T-shirts, shorts, pants and undergarments. And if you want to be extra-organized, further compact and categorize your clothes with travel organizers like Eagle Creek’s Packing Cubes ($8.50-$42, www.eaglecreek.com). If you’re bringing pressed shirts, skirts, dresses or trousers, place plastic dry cleaning bags between each item to prevent wrinkling or use “packing folders” that allow you to compress many items at once while also keeping them wrinkle-free ($24-$40, www.eaglecreek.com).

Carrying liquids

Put your liquid toiletries in a clear, sealed, quart-size bag near the top of your suitcase so you can quickly remove it when you go through security. Many stores sell “airport-ready” clear travel kits with TSA-approved bottles for you to fill. Or use a regular resealable plastic bag and purchase travel-size products that are three ounces or less. Human Gear has created the GoToob, a “squeezable tube for traveling,” that is food safe, BPA-free and approved for carry-on luggage ($6.99-$9.49, www.humangear.
com).

Space savers

Carriers like Stella & Dot’s Bring It jewelry roll allow you to pack your jewelry securely in one place without taking up a lot of space ($39, www.stelladot.com). Buy a lightweight sleeve for your laptop, tablet or e-reader. And a multi-port USB hub allows you to charge several devices at once.

Essentials and valuables

Make sure you’re not packing important or valuable items in the bags you’re checking. Again, this seems obvious, but in the whirlwind of getting out the door, items that should remain with you at all times can end up in the wrong bag. You don’t want to be caught without passports, itineraries or medical papers. And when a child has an accident on a long flight, that change of clothing won’t do any good in the belly of the plane."

More on vacations:
Peace-of-Mind Vacation Check List - What to Do Before You Leave
Helping Your Child Organize Vacation Packing
Organize Your Family Vacation

 

Increasing Efficiency

 
Ever feel like that hamster in a cage, moving but not going anywhere? Here are a few ways to increase your efficiency and productivity.

- First and foremost, know your priorities, passions, and gifts. Use these as filters for incoming opportunities and requests. If you're not sure what is important to you, you may be controlled, by default, by others' agendas.

- Create a master weekly schedule that includes your priorities, passions, and gifts. Use this as you plan your schedule each week. If your schedule is erratic, create a master list of things you need to accomplish each week.

- Say no to those activities which do not contribute to your objectives. If that’s difficult, ask for some time to think about it, compare it with your priorities, and then say no. If you're unsure about whether or not to pursue the opportunity, get some advice from your spouse or close friend who is aware of your priorities and commitments.

- Find ways to simplify your life, schedule, etc. Remove activities from your life about which you are no longer passionate. Remove clutter from your life.

- Create systems and routines for handling paperwork, daily/weekly activities, etc.

- Delegate whenever possible. Train your delegees well, whether it is on the job or doing house chores! And plan a time to follow up.

- Make lists. Write down what you need to do, to remember, to buy, etc., rather than waste time later trying to remember them. I keep my lists on my phone, so they are available at any time.

- Plan your errands strategically so as to save drive time and gas.

- Avoid people who are time-wasters, unless you feel “called” to that relationship. Use email or texting when you must communicate with them so as not to be trapped by their lack of control. Or call them five minutes before a meeting or similar commitment, thereby limiting your conversation time.

- Determine if an emergency or interruption is urgent and important or just urgent before you change your scheduled activities. Just because it may be an emergency for someone else, doesn’t necessarily mean it must become an emergency for you!

- Don’t check your email first thing in the morning; instead, do your highest priority.

- Prepare the night before so your morning will run smoothly.

- Keep well-stocked on the essentials - milk, bread, toilet paper, etc. Milk and bread can be frozen (use milk with screw on cap and pour out a little milk before freezing to allow for expansion). This prevents costly (both time and money) emergency trips to the grocery store.

- Make a master list of school supplies your children use frequently. When you go to the office supply store, check your list to avoid running out of an essential. At the beginning of the school year buy project supplies as well as school supplies - markers, colored pencils, poster board, report folders, etc. When your child has a last-minute project, you'll be prepared! No more late-night trips to the grocery store hoping they'll have poster board.

- Do the same with office supplies. Make a list of essentials - paper, ink, labels, legal pads, binders, etc. Each time you go to the office supply store, check your list. Many office supply stores will deliver if your purchase is over $50.

- Compare prices between local office supply stores and online stores. I have found quality computer ink, shipping supplies, and other items at cheaper prices than my local stores, many times with a better selection. And I don't have to go anywhere!

- Use small snatches of time to do quick tasks. Save large blocks of time for big projects. If you have projects that require lengthy attention, create "no interruption" times during your day. Schedule times when you are available to field questions, phone calls, etc. Record this information on your answering machine.

By increasing your efficiency, your day will be more productive. And you may be able to find some extra time in the day for yourself!

More on productivity:
1-2-3 Get Organized Time Management Books
Wrapping Up Today so Tomorrow Runs Smoothly
Increasing Your Effectiveness at Work
Do You Have a Mid-Afternoon Priority Check?

 

Organizing Summer Fun - 10 Free (or almost free) Summer Activities for Kids

 

Need some new ideas for providing creative activities for your kids or grandkids? I discovered this great article that will inspire you to try something new! Handy links provide resources for making it happen.

"Visiting a museum can be a low-cost (and air conditioned) way to enjoy a hot summer day. Kids of all ages want summer fun that's a break from the ordinary, especially from those dog days of boredom.

The good news is that parents and grandparents can provide lots of fun activities without breaking the bank.

While they're at it, they can even provide some priceless lessons, skills and memories.

If you're prepping for another summer with stay-at-home kids or visiting grandchildren, consider these wallet-friendly ways to make the most of "together" time.

1. See how it's made

Unlock the marvels of manufacturing for thousands of American-made products by going on factory tours that are often free and usually educational. Visit Factory Tours USA for listings of nearly 600 offerings, searchable by state, product or industry.

2. Amuse 'em at a museum

Check with museums near you about free or low-cost admission and other summer programs for kids on select days. Some credit cards and member organizations also offer special museum admission deals.

3. See pros play

If the young 'uns (or you) are pigskin fans, you can go hog-wild at National Football League training camps, usually mid-to-late July. Admission to preseason practices is often free, or a small fraction of a game ticket, and some training camps offer "family fun" events for a more fan-friendly experience. Contact franchises or visit NFL.com for dates and locations (typically posted in early July).

4. Spare the expense of bowling

Kids can bowl two games per day for free — every day, all summer long — at some 1,000 bowling centers across the U.S. and Canada participating in Kids Bowl Free. Preregistration is required (you'll need to print and bring passes to your designated lanes), and if you want to do more than just keep score, low-cost family passes allow up to four adults to participate.

5. Angle for free fishing

With the exception of Alaska, every state (and the District of Columbia) holds no-license-required days, ideal for newbies to, ahem, test the waters — and maybe even provide dinner. Get details on summer's free fishing days at takemefishing.org/nfbw, where you can also download a free app for iPhone and Android smartphones that features more than 35,000 boat ramps and marinas in the U.S. where you can launch or dock a boat.

6. Turn half-pints into handymen (and handywomen)

In addition to free weekend "how-to" workshops for adults, Home Depot hosts them for kids between ages 5 and 12 on the first Saturday of each month, while Lowe's offers them on select weekends. In these clinics, kids get the lowdown on do-it-yourself projects and typically build a wooden craft they can keep.

7. Let them be crafty

For those who prefer pipe cleaners and beads for their creative construction, Michaels, Hobby Lobby and A.C. Moore host regular, in-store crafts classes specifically for kids; many are free, others cost $5 or less. Lego stores hold free, monthly model-building events. Meanwhile, any-aged offspring -— or you — might enjoy spilling creative juices at BeFunky.com, where uploaded photos can be tweaked into cartoons, Warhol-esque painting or who-knows-what.

8. Host a yard sale

You can get rid of clutter, teach some entrepreneurial-enhancing skills and earn a few bucks. For the best turnout, pick a Saturday morning — and have the kids spend Friday designing and hanging signs in the neighborhood. You can post a free advertisement on Craigslist and in some community newspapers.

9. Instill a science alliance

No disrespect to the classic "volcano" made from baking soda, vinegar and food coloring, but an at-home Science Fair can reap more inventive, if not yuck-inducingly offbeat, projects — and also help your kids get a jump on mandated assignments for the coming school year. Find dozens of creative experiments, for various skill levels and ages, at ScienceBuddies.org, ScienceAndMath.com or other websites by doing a Web search on 'science experiments.' Most projects can be done with less than $20 of already kitchen-stocked or store-bought materials.

10. Hit the big screen (at a small price)

They may not be new releases, but some theaters have free or low-cost showings of family-friendly films, typically on weekday mornings. Chains offering freebies include REI Cinemas, Muvico and Clearview Cinemas. Admission is $1 at Regal as well as Cinemark and Century theaters, with the latter providing a $5 punch card to see 10 films in its series."

More on organizing summer fun:
Organizing Summer Fun - 50 Ideas for Your Summer Bucket List
Organizing Summer Fun - Michael's Passport to Imagination
Planning an Intentional Summer for Your Child



 

DIY - Turn a Hutch or TV Cabinet into an Entry Organizer

  
"Give an old TV cabinet or china hutch a new purpose as an entryway organizer. To create this piece, we removed the doors and added hooks along the back of the hutch, gave the piece a fresh paint job, and added a shelf for extra storage."Another idea from Better Homes and Gardens.

Looks like they added wallpaper to the back of the hutch, adding a nice touch.

More on entry way organizing:
Entry Closet Door Organizer
Organizing Products I Use - Mail and Key Rack
Three Steps to Decluttering

 

Organizing Products I Use - Repurposed Furniture

As you know, I am a big proponent of shopping in your own home to find storage solutions. 

Years ago when our girls were small, we purchased several pieces of furniture for them from IKEA. They were inexpensive, durable, and had great storage. We still have a couple of those pieces and have repurposed them as office storage.

They don't match our office furniture, so we put them in our office closet so they don't clash and don't take up valuable office space. One piece is on one side of the closet, and the other one is on the other side of the closet, which has sliding doors. We can easily open drawers and doors for access to what we need. But when we don't, it's all behind the closet doors!

 






















As you can see, the tall one holds office supplies - paper, labels, envelopes and such. Our printer and scanner live on top. My husband cut additional shelving out of plywood to create more cubbies for our supplies.

The other piece is short with drawers on one side and shelves on the other. It houses my husband's projects - bills, reading material and other items he uses often.

If you're needing additional storage, look around your home, attic, and garage to see if you can repurpose something you already own to meet your needs. 

Can't beat the price!
 

More on Repurposed Storage:
Turn Your Clutter into Storage - DIY Ideas
Organizing Products I Use - Shoe Organizers (but not for shoes)
Plastic Bags are Messy - Box Them Up!

Don't Sabotage Yourself with the "Evening Drift"

 
After a long day, it's easy to drift through your evening. Doing so, however, may end up sabotaging yourself later.

It's important to rest, refuel, and spend time with those you love. It's also important to be pro-active in using your evening well. By doing so, you'll be able to anticipate what needs to happen tomorrow, and you'll feel less overwhelmed at the end of the week.

Each week when you plan the next week's schedule, plan your evenings as well:

- Establish an evening routine consisting of several tasks that keep life on track. Some examples might include family time, bath times for kids, homework time, 15-minute clutter clean up for the entire family, loading/running the dishwasher, thinking through tomorrow's dinner, some personal time, a set bedtime, etc.

- Schedule household chores (load of laundry, cleaning task, paying bills, etc.) that can be done throughout the week. Doing a load of laundry or two during evening activities eliminates dedicating large chunks of time to it over the weekend.

- You'll also want to think through what is necessary for everyone to get out the door in the morning: breakfast, lunches, backpack/briefcase/diaper bag/purse loaded, athletic uniforms/gear, band instruments, school forms, choose clothes for tomorrow, etc. Create checklists to eliminate stress and forgotten items.

- Multi-task in low-risk areas: Fold laundry while overseeing homework. Dust while watching a TV show. Vacuum during commercials. Clean counters while on the phone. Studies show that multi-tasking during tasks that require thought or concentration produces poor results.

If by using your evening time well, you can squeeze in some tasks you normally do on the weekends, you'll avoid having a huge weekend to-do list! Encourage the rest of the family, if applicable, to do the same.

And then take time to enjoy your weekend!

More on Productivity:
Do You Have a Mid-Afternoon Priority Check?
Going Beyond the  To-Do List 
Creating Systems and Routines
 

Organizing Summer Fun – 50 Ideas for Your Summer Bucket List

I found the most wonderful site that encourages you and your kids to connect with nature: Go Explore Nature! 

I did some exploring on their website and came upon their 50 Ideas for Your Summer Bucket List. Most of their ideas come with links and will inspire you to get out with your kids. Many are no- or low-cost and spark creativity in your children.

Some examples: a summer scavenger hunt, a cardboard box fort, a weather station.

Check it out!

More on organizing fun:
Planning an Intentional Summer for Your Child
Organizing Spring Break Fun
Organizing Summer Fun - Michael's Passport to Imagination
 
    

Health Risks of Clutter

Clutter can create numerous health risks. The following article excerpts detail some of those. Quite motivating!

"Causes of death range from ridiculous mishaps to that of the terminally severe, be it through a slow rot spent in a space filled with junk—unable to function normally due to the mentally draining chaos surrounding you–or through an unexpected trip-and-fall caused by rubbish left lying on a bedroom floor.

When it comes to clutter, a lot of people do not realize how huge of a risk it poses to thousands of lives. Apart from the obvious foot impaling accidents, dirt in one’s home can also lead to peril, specifically on one’s health. To help you realize how dire it is for you to keep your household clean, we’ve compiled a list of facts that establish the health dangers of an untidy space, especially when it gets to a hazardous degree.

Fact #1: A cluttered environment can only mean one thing–stress

A disorganized dwelling packed with heaps of stuff scattered on every corner is visually, mentally, and emotionally tiring. It leaves one lethargic, hopeless, and bothered by overwhelming anxiety. When you’re space is cluttered, your productivity gets affected and you’re left missing deadlines, working longer hours, and losing important stuff.

Fact #2: Clutter attracts dust. Dust is both an allergen and an asthma trigger

And too much of it is unhealthy for kids. A dusty room makes one’s allergies flare up and is considered deadly for people with heart and lung disease, and also to those with breathing problems.

Fact #3: Pests call clutter home–Roaches, rodents and flies all thrive in nasty environments. The moment you stop cleaning your house, you’re instantly making it an irresistible breeding ground for disgusting pests to call their home. From moldy leftovers to dank mildew and grime, a cluttered household makes for a toxic setting where rats, mice and other bacteria-carrying insects live freely.

Fact #4: Apart from being fire hazards, stacks of paper and litter left lying on the floor are just accidents waiting to happen…

Ever felt what it’s like to step on a Lego brick? Painful, right? That could’ve been avoided if toys were put away. An organized space will definitely bring you peace of mind and lessen the occurrence of messy mishaps happening to your household. Another point to consider is that junk poses as serious barriers for emergency rescue personnel. ..."

Something to think about, isn't it?


More on health and clutter:
Statistics: The Health and Mental Health Benefits of Spring Cleaning
10 Types of Emotional Clutter
9 Ways to Enhance Your Health by Being Organized

DIY Under-the-Bed Storage

 
Here's a clever idea from Better Homes and Gardens: 

"Scope out old dresser drawers to repurpose as another kind of bedroom storage. By attaching casters to the bottoms of the drawers, you'll have a set of underbed storage units, making the space beneath the bed good for more than just dust bunnies."

More DIY storage ideas:
DIY Scarf Storage
Plastic Bags are Messy - Box Them Up!
What to Do with Those Dry Cleaner Hangers? - Make a DIY Shoe Rack

 

Wrapping Up the School Year

     
As the school year closes, it's a good time to wrap up end-of-year activities. Even if you don't have kids in school, many activities take a break for the summer - a perfect time to put closure on those activities.

If you volunteer, declutter and organize any paperwork for your position. If you are passing that position on to someone else, hand off that paperwork  so the transition goes smoothly.

If you've taken a class, organize your class notes and related material. Look over your notes for action points you want to take away from the class.


If you have school-age children, sit down together and look over school papers, projects and artwork you have saved. Determine an acceptable amount to save and work with your child to determine which masterpieces to keep. If you wish, make a scrapbook of the year.

If there are too keepsakes many for your comfort, take pictures of the rest and put them in a photo album. Or send them to relatives or soldiers. Or create placemats, lamp shades, collages, etc. with them.

Print photos you want to keep from this year and divide into categories. Or copy to CDs or DVDs or another medium. Organize according to activities. Remove these pictures from your camera to make room for your summer fun.

If you haven't done so already, evaluate summer clothes for the family. Get rid of those that don't work and fill in the blanks with new ones. While you're at it, if other clothes are outgrown, get rid of those also. Donate, hand them down - whatever, but get them out of the house!

Finally, celebrate the end of school! Make something special, decorate, do something silly, make certificates to celebrate milestones. Whatever you do, celebrate all the work each of you has accomplished during the school year.

More on wrapping up:
Planning an Intentional Summer for Your Child
Managing Paper, Part 2
Organize a Fun Activity List

Turning Your Clutter into Storage - DIY Ideas

  

Alyssa Karas wrote the following article about recycling your clutter into storage. Love it!

"Creating a DIY storage solution is a great way to recycle and repurpose things that would otherwise go the way of the trash bin, and the end product will keep the rest of your possessions organized.

To choose materials to repurpose, get creative. 'When I see something that’s sitting in someone’s driveway waiting to be picked up by the trash... [it’s] almost like money in the bank,' says Hillary Dickman, who blogs about her home projects and green living at The Friendly Home website.

Here are three repurposing projects to organize your home that even DIY beginners can craft.

Gail Wilson used a discarded bi-folding door to create a magazine rack. Total cost of the project? Zero.

'It was a curb find,' Wilson says, who writes about her projects on her blog, My Repurposed Life. 'I just removed every other slat in order to give room for the magazines to hang.'

Wilson used a tool to achieve flush cuts on the slats, but you can get the same result with the claw end of a hammer. Simply snap the slat in the middle and then remove it from each side. You can also use a window shutter instead of a bi-folding door.

After that, Wilson spruced it up with some spare paint.

If you’re wondering where to find an old shutter or door, Wilson says it’s not as hard as you might think. 'I know a lot of people are embarrassed to do curb shopping, but I find the best way to ask for stuff is on Facebook,' says Wilson, who lives in Louisville, Ky. 'I’ll say, "I need an old crib," and people have this stuff! Your friends and family have this – they just don’t know you need it.'

With a pocket hole jig, some glue and a few nails, Dickman turned two old closet doors into a hall tree, which holds coats, shoes and other miscellaneous items. 'What it takes mostly is vision and creativity,' says Dickman, who lives in Colorado Springs. 'It’s not so much skill, it’s more about seeing how to put the pieces together.'

Dickman used one full-sized door for the back of the entry bench. She cut the second door into two long pieces, and then cut those again to form side panels, armrests, the bench and a drawer panel.

After assembling it, Dickman painted and distressed it, and she added a few finishing touches, like hooks and a decorative door knob. Since all of the wood was reclaimed, she spent only $53 on the project, which went toward hardware and decoration.

'When I see something that is usable waiting to go to the landfill, it breaks my heart,' Dickman says. 'I think of how full our landfills are, and I think, "That could be something beautiful and useful," and why would we toss it?'

Miki Steiner needed a way to bring some order to morning chaos, and she found a solution in an unexpected place: plastic soup bowls.

Using a utility knife, Steiner cut a hole in the bottom of plastic soup bowls. She spray painted them and then nailed them to the wall.

'I store all sorts of knick knacks needed before leaving the house like keys, sun glasses, gloves, gum, etc.,' says Steiner, who lives in Israel and blogs at her website, Miki’s Design. 'Instead of searching for these items in a rush every time I get out, it is all lined up waiting for me.'"

Are you inspired?

More on repurposed storage:
What to Do with Those Dry Cleaner Hangers? - Make a DIY Shoe  Rack
Organizing Your Bracelets - Go Vertical!
Organize Toys Using a Wire Garden Planter

Organizing Products I Use - Shoe Organizers (but not for shoes)

I did a post previously about using shoe organizers in my pantry, and I'm doing it again! Our new house has high ceilings, so there's a potential for wasted space in the tops of the closets (gasp!)

Remember how we turned our laundry room closet into a pantry? I added shoe organizers to both sides to use up that space above the closet shelf.

I keep hard-to-store items like platters, my three-tiered dessert server (top left), baskets,  salad spinner, etc. I even put another shelf extender on the top shelf on the left for additional storage.

In the middle between the two shoe shelves, I stood large baskets and trays on their sides. They take up vertical space rather than horizontal space that way.

These shelves make the items I don't use very often accessible when I do need them those few times a year without having to unpack boxes. I love it!

I've used a different type of shoe organizer in our office - the kind that has cubbies. This picture shows the cubbies pretty empty when we first moved in, but they are filed now. It's a nice place to store business cards, phone attachments, ink cartridges, external hard drives and other small stuff we use often. As you may notice, we've turned the closet in our office into a storage area. More about that another day!

These shoe organizers are a great way to expand your shelving without having to build shelving yourself. You do have to put them together, but you don't have to start from scratch! And they are reasonably priced. I got mine at Walmart or Target for around $13 apiece.

Of course, you can always use them for shoes, too!

Such handy little things!


More on Organizing Products I Use:
Organizing Products I Use - Steel Shelving
Organizing Products I Use - Bakeware Organizers
Organizing Products I Use - The Arrow Clothes Hanging System

Organizing Your Yard and Garden

  
I found some terrific tips for organizing your outdoor space. Hope you enjoy them!

"In the warmer months, we find ourselves outside more often, enjoying nature while playing with the kids and maintaining our lawns. But this additional time spent outside means more home and garden tools and more opportunity for a mess.

Here are some simple tips to keep your outdoor spaces cleaner and more organized:

Storage bench — Use a storage bench to keep your gardening gloves, tools and children's outdoor toys. Available in a wide variety of sizes and styles, you can find the bench that fits your decor. Plus, they offer an extra seating area when you have company.

Bundle cords — No one likes the unsightly appearance or hazard of cords. Before your gatherings, bundle together stereo and electronic cords that are exposed, as well as any cords that run across the lawn. Helpful products, such as Velcro One Wrap ties, keep your items bound tight and out of sight.

Paver pots — Use old pavers to create plant containers. Simply stack the pavers together making a square shape. The heavy weight of the pavers keeps the dirt and plant contained together.

Deck space — Use the space under your deck for additional, out-of-sight storage. Tuck plastic lidded storage containers underneath for easy access to children's sporting goods and toys.

Mesh bags — Pool toys, rafts and inner tubes need a space to dry off. Use mesh bags so these summer toys properly are properly dried, preventing mildew or molding.

Proper plant care — Stock up on essentials for a healthy garden, including the tools to make plant seedlings thrive, such as Velcro Peel Away seed pots. These pots make it easy to remove the pots without disturbing the roots, making transitions from pot to flower bed flawless.

Repurpose furniture — Turn old furniture pieces, such as old filing cabinets, into instant garage storage solutions. Take out the drawers of the cabinet and turn it on its side. Each empty drawer area provides a spot for large items like brooms, shovels and rakes.

Fence storage — Turn old coffee or paint cans into storage bins for smaller gardening tools like hand shovels and pruning shears. For easy access while in the garden, cut holes and use rope to hang around a close-by fence post.

Tires — Stack old tires on top of each other for an outdoor toy container that kids can easily access. Paint the outside to match the color of your house or whatever color you fancy."

Makes me want to go play outside - what about you?



More on organizing solutions:
Get Your House in Order - A Great Wintertime Project
Entry Closet Door Organizer
3 Steps to Organizing Your Closet

Organizing Summer Fun - Michael's Passport to Imagination

  
I always like to find opportunities for organizing summer fun for families each summer. Here's something that is starting at Michael's today and continuing for seven weeks: Michael's Passport to Imagination. Looks like a creative way to combine fun and learning for a great price!

More on organizing summer fun:
Planning an Intentional Summer for Your  Child
Organizing Spring Break Fun
Organizing Spring Break - Planning in Some Refill Time