How To Get Organized and Be Happy!

From storage cubes and caddies to soft-textured bins and baskets, we have home organization solutions to help turn cluttered spaces into pleasant places to spend time working and relaxing. It doesn’t take much time at all, just a little planning and a little shopping at mythirtyone.com!

As  they say, work before pleasure, so let’s get to work and organize your home office space first.

 

Without the proper storage and organization solutions, papers supplies and other office materials can start to run rampant. Even shelves become disorganized.

 

Make your workspace wonderfully organized

Working from home is common these days for adults and kids, so make sure your workspace is clutter-free and manageable. Our home office organization solutions are a great way to set you and your family up for success.

Just a few caddies and bins can keep your office space organized and efficient. The colorful prints and personalization designs available on our storage solutions add style and personality to your desk and shelves. A fun pop of color on the wall can bring a boring space to life.

No file drawer? No problem! The Fold N’ File^®  is a portable file box specially made for holding everything from tax filings and receipts to bills and insurance forms. For kids, it’s a great place to keep all their tests and papers from school neatly organized by class and subject.

The Double Duty^® Caddy and Deluxe Double Duty^® Caddy keep office and school supplies together and at the ready. With lots of pockets and compartments, they’re the ideal storage caddies for pens, pencils, scissors, notebooks, rulers and all those desk top necessities.

Don’t cram your desk drawers full of all those office supply essentials, like little containers and boxes of paper clips, staples, tape, sticky notes and push pins – keep them in a Felt Storage Bin. These handy little storage bins don’t take up much desk or shelf space and they’re perfect for personalization with a monogram or statement.

The Your Way^® Cube and Your Way^® Rectangle provide convenient storage options for any home office environment. Ideal for storing important contracts, forms and records, or larger office needs like printer paper, computer cords and adapters, instruction manuals, reference materials and more. And when you purchase the Your Way^® Cube Lid or Your Way^® Rectangle Lid, they become stackable storage containers for all your non-disposable essentials.

Create a cozy corner just for you

If you’ve ever dreamed of having your very own room to craft, relax, read or sew but don’t have the luxury of that extra space in your home, we have a simple solution for you. So, gather up those things you love and find a corner in your house to make your own – we’ll take it from there!

That oversized chair and ottoman in the family room is a great place to put your feet up and relax, and the floor lamp next to it make it the perfect reading nook. Claim that chair for your own and create a cozy reading space! Load up all those cozy comforts in a Felt Display Bin – blanket, slippers, books, reading glasses a bottle of vino, a glass and a corkscrew – and keep it tucked away under the end table or next to the chair for easy access whenever you’re ready for your next chapter.

That sofa in the den is a quiet place the kids never use. Stake your claim and make it your personal knitting nook. Flip on the TV or the stereo and chill out as you complete your latest creation. The Felt Storage Bin with that embroidered “R” is the perfect choice to hold all your yarn and knitting needles, plus it lets everyone know this is mom’s turf now.

So, you just got into crafting. Sounds fun! Now all you need is a place to enjoy your new hobby. What about the breakfast nook in the kitchen or that swivel chair and table in the guest room? Wherever you make your creative space, be sure you’ve got everything you need ready and waiting for you when inspiration hits. The Canvas Storage Caddy is a great craft storage solution with lots of pockets around the outside and a large open space inside. Personalize it with something befitting of your new interest… how about “Craft Queen”?

Need help in organizing other areas of your home?  I’m happy to help.  We can do a virtual “product experience” where I can help you with ideas for even those most difficult areas.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Home Organization Quick Hits

It’s easy to ignore the little spaces in your house when cleaning, after all, out of sight, out of mind, right? But in reality, clutter under your bathroom sinks, in your laundry room or in the trunk of your car can be resolved in minutes with the right combination and sizes of totes, bags, storage bins and caddies.

Check out these “quick hit” home organization solutions which only take a few minutes to complete. All you need are the right small space storage solutions, and we can help with that. Read on!

Shown: Double Duty^® Caddy in Tip Top Chevron; Your Way^®Rectangle in Tip Top ChevronQuick Fix: Bathroom Organization

Let’s start under the sink with cabinet clutter. Get everything out of there to start and separate the items into groups of how you use them. For example, put all your bath and shower products together, all your towels together, beauty and hair care, etc., then ask yourself:

 

• How many groups do you have?       
• How much of each group do you have? 
• What size containers will I need to hold these items?
• What type of containers do I need?
  • One with a handle for carrying?
  • One that makes it easy to see what’s inside?
  • One that will fit inside the space comfortably?

Once you have your answers, it’s time to find your storage solutions. We can help! In addition to the products shown above, we recommend:

• Your Way^® Cube for towels, toilet paper rolls, cleaning supplies
• Tiny Utility Tote for hair accessories, curlers, brushes
• Littles Carry-All^™ Caddy for small toiletries like toothpaste, eye drops, first aid supplies

 

Shown: Double Duty^® Caddy in Tip Top Chevron personalized with Background Initials in True Turquoise.

Next, let’s tackle the jumbled mess on top of the sink. Do you share a bathroom with a roommate, husband or kids? You might need to organize the drawers in your vanity or even the counter space around the sink. While it’s important to have easy access to things, you don’t have to sacrifice counter space to achieve it.

A couple of personalized Double Duty^®Caddies or Deluxe Double Duty^® Caddies not only help organize toiletries and cosmetics, they help you quickly identify what’s yours. Even if you share your bathroom, you can still have your personal space and belongings neatly organized.

Depending on the size of your counters and drawers, you might want to consider these recommended storage options, too:

• Clear Clip Pouch for toiletries or travel-size products
• Get Creative^™ Double Pouch for manicure/pedicure supplies or essential oils
• Glamour Case for cosmetics, accessories or skin care products

 

Shown: Large Utility Tote in Denim Distressed Pebble personalized with Headline Font in Navy Blue; Tiny Utility Tote in Denim Distressed PebbleQuick Fix: Laundry Room Organization

Laundry rooms can become a messy dumping ground for piles of clothes that need sorting. Instead of a family free-for-all of dirty laundry, why not get organized with storage solutions for clothes, detergents, and all your other laundry needs?

Our Large Utility Totes are way better than laundry bags or baskets, because after everything is washed and dried, clothes and be folded neatly, packed, and carried over the shoulder hands-free to their destination.

Need to organize your laundry supplies, too? Try a Tiny Utility Tote or a Medium Utility Tote if you need more space. Have to go somewhere outside your living space to do your laundry? Our unique laundry totes make transporting your clothes and laundry needs easy.

Depending on your needs, we have a bunch of other great laundry storage options for you and your family. Here are a few of our faves:

• Stand Tall Bin – makes a great easy-carry hamper for any bedroom or bathroom
• Move It All Bag – ideal for college students or anyone carrying clothes to a laundromat
• Your Way^® Cube – keeps all your laundry products together and easily accessible

 

Shown: Takealong Weekender in Vintage Slate personalized with Large Signature Initial in Caramel; Expanding Travel Case in Vintage Slate with Large Signature Initial in Caramel; Multi Bottle Thermal in Windowpane Plaid; Zipper Pouch in Windowpane Plaid personalized with Headline font in WhiteQuick Fix: Diaper Bag Organization

New moms know the importance of good diaper bags and baby totes. These essentials help keep you organized when you have errands to run and a baby to bring along. Instead of shoving everything you need into one large bag, separate items into small totes and then place those bags into a large tote for easy carrying.

We have a lot of great diaper bag and baby tote options to choose from. Consider these baby organizing solutions for your daily needs:

• Adventures Backpack – makes a great hands-free baby or diaper bag
• Away For The Weekender – shoulder bag with pockets for diapers, food, toys and wipes
• Around The Clock^® Thermal – easy, hands-free thermal bag for keeping baby food cool

 

Shown: Large Utility Tote in Charcoal Crosshatch personalized with Modern font in Black; Foldaway Tote in Off to Shop; Quick Cinch Thermal in Buffalo PlaidQuick Fix: Vehicle Trunk Organization

When you have kids who play sports, pets that love the park and lots of places to be, then your car, van, or SUV’s trunk may look like a disaster area. Never fear. We have ideal trunk storage solutions and trunk organizers for your car or SUV.

Our car storage totes help keep grocery bags from tipping over, sports equipment from rolling around and emergency supplies organized and ready for use. Have some other car storage needs in mind? Here are a few more recommendations to help you get organized:

• Deluxe Utility Tote – our biggest storage tote can handle tools, sporting goods, groceries and more
• Deluxe Double^® Duty Caddy – perfect for holding small tools, flashlights and other emergency needs
• Your Way^® Cube – keep pet toys, car washing supplies, or road trip necessities ready for action

Have questions or need help picking out the perfect organizing solution…… send me a message, I will be happy to help!

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Products shown are from Fall 2020 season, available from Sept 1, 2020 to Feb 28, 2021. For more information about product availability, contact your Consultant or go to mythirtyone.com

Why You Can’t Live Without A Large Utility Tote

Thirty One’s original (and famous) Large Utility Tote, or LUT for short is celebrating it’s 10th birthday…Don’t get why this is such a BIG deal?

Millions of these totes have been sold over the years and for many it has been your go-to tote from the grocery store to the beach and back. And with more prints to choose from than ever, now is the perfect time to stock up on them – and the accessories to make the best even better!

Check out what makes this customer-favorite so special, and how the addition of the Double Chill Thermal Set and Stand Tall Insert has upped the game on this #1 seller.  The list of the 101 most creative, practical and just plain wacky uses customers have found for the LUT  is CRAZY!!

It’s storage made portable! When the best-selling tote debuted in 2009, the original Large Utility Tote featured, and still does, a sturdy wire support around the top to hold its shape and reinforced stitching on the handles and seams for unmatched durability.  Did you know it could hold up to 100 pounds?  Yes, it has been kid tested!  It also collapses flat for easy storage.

The two-piece Double Chill Thermal Set is soft yet structured and fits perfectly inside the Large Utility Tote, transforming it into the ultimate picnic basket or tailgating tote! Or quickly snap in a Stand Tall Insert to add structure, stability and handy interior pockets.

Want to get inspired????   Here are 101 of the favorite uses shared by Thirty One Customers and Consultants.  Which one (or ones) would you use it for?

1. Warehouse store shopping
2. Wine caddy
3. Cleaning supplies
4. Gift bags, boxes & tissue paper
5. Hockey equipment
6. Christmas lights
7. Winter hats, gloves & scarves
8. Campsite dishwashing tub
9. Yarn storage
10. Basketball camp

11. Junk in the trunk!

12. Classroom posters
13. Garage storage
14. Cold cellar storage
15. Portable tool box
16. Cowboy boots
17. Take puppies to the vet
18. Camper organization
19. Under the bed
20. Lift-out chest freezer divider

21. Bathroom storage

22. Beach or pool bag
23. Fitness equipment
24. Battle ropes
25. Band equipment
26. Hide Christmas gifts
27. Photo albums
28. Hunting gear
29. Kids’ science fair projects
30. Extra diapers

31. Boating needs
32. Car cleaning supplies
33. Calving supplies & milk bottles
34. Carry sewing machine to quilting group
35. Dry/wet towels
36. Store chips in the pantry
37. Newspapers for delivery
38. Camping gear
39. Soccer balls & kits
40. Swim team gear

41. Pack for a potluck

42. School supplies drop-off
43. Scrapbooking supplies
44. Gardening tools
45. Cake decorating supplies
46. Ice fishing equipment
47. Snowmobile helmet & gear
48. Kids’ hide-and-seek spot
49. Cookbooks
50. Beauty supplies

51. Coach’s bag
52. Birthday party supplies
53. Computer repair items
54. Church youth group
55. Painting supplies
56. Weiner dog bed for road trips
57. Tae Kwon Do sparring gear
58. Carry hay to the goats
59. Nerf guns & ammo
60. End-of-school locker clean-out

61. Ultimate picnic basket
62. Clothing & toiletry donations
63. Cub Scout bag
64. Cheerleading equipment
65. Packable extra luggage for travel
66. Hot tub essentials
67. Seasonal closet clean-out
68. Mixing bowls & utensils
69. Floor tiles & grout
70. Vinyl record collection

71. Extra baseballs for practice
72. Take coffee & snacks to the office
73. Transport a large piñata
74. Deliver May Day baskets
75. Dog boarding & grooming items
76. Toy racecar tracks
77. Carry birthday presents
78. Clean laundry sorting system
79. Artificial Christmas tree branches
80. Spare sheets in each bedroom

81. Family Sunday

82. Sleepover bag
83. Extra shoes by the door
84. Farmer’s market
85. Sweet corn picking
86. Pretend airplane
87. Stuffed animals
88. Blankets & throw pillows
89. Air mattress, pump & batteries
90. Take NICU/chemo care kits to hospital
91. Cosplay costumes

92. Grandma’s crochet projects
93. Softball catcher’s gear
94. Kayaking accessories
95. Magazine storage
96. Camera equipment & tripod
97. Trading card binders
98. Baby-wearing class supplies
99. 100 feet of garden hose
100. Ham radio supplies
101. Clothesline, clothespins & hangers

So, are you convinced you need one?????  Grab them while they are on sale this month…

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Organizing in 2017

Monday morning and it is time to start another week…. or are you one of those people who are off for Martin Luther King Day?

Today, I am going to talk about organizing.  I’m sure there are one or two of you who have it on your New Year’s Resolution list, right?  Honestly, I can be a “hot mess” despite my best efforts to organize. You would think having a business with AMAZING organizational products I would be organized, right?

A two floor condo allows you certain perks – I am sure these are not in the sales brochure. The first floor of my home is always neat with some dust bunnies taking up residence. Most days they feel safe but there are occasions when they should fear for their life.  Things are put away for the most part.  There are certain areas – like the coffee table which has become a tiny office for hubby since I have claimed the lower level of the condo.  He has small, neat, “organized” piles.  The basket of bills in the foyer is now under control with the new system of sorting as the mail comes in the house.  Hubby is a once a month bill payer so the basket gets cleaned out then whether it needs it or not.  We have the “lived in look” as far as decorating.  I believe (finally) people stopping are here to see us not how clean (or messy) our house is, right? A girl can dream…..

Then you go to the second floor which consists of the family room, my office and Belinda’s bedroom. Yes, it will always be her room even though she is grown and married.  Lately, I have been thinking (the first step, right?) on what is the best way to organize the family room AND my office so it works for me and my business.  I mean, I am the one who spends most of their time down there, right? I have an “organized mess”. I know where things are but I am sure the set-up is not efficient and costs me a lot of time when I am looking for something.  Have I described your home or office?  Maybe you have small children or you work from home too.  Whatever the case, there is always room to get more organized.  Of course cleaning out (tossing and donating) stuff too helps.  I am doing it a little bit at a time.

Enter home organization products from Thirty One.  Here are some of our amazing products in various settings:

  

Clever uses for our Large Utility Totes… they are not just for the grocery store or for keeping things from rolling around the trunk of the car.  They are also a great way to store thing son shelves – sports equipment, sheets, blankets, towels, beach stuff… you get the picture, right?

Stand Tall Bins is a great solution for sorting laundry. The Square Storage Bin (retiring as of January 31st) can hold blankets and large pillows in the living room for easy access when the kids (or you) need them.

Do you have a playroom for the kids or does their bedroom double as one?  Why not try our cubes to hide the “little things” and the NEW Hang It Pocket Organizer for papers and “stuff”.  The Your Way cubes and the Your Way rectangles are in my office to keep all of my “stuff” close and neatly put away.

Does your pantry need help? The chalk fronts on some of the Your Way Cubes and Rectangles let you mark what is in them and then wipe off and change it to something else.

How have you used our “home organization” products to help your “hot mess”? Share YOUR creative uses for our products and how they have helped to transform YOUR crazy household. Who knows I or others might even be inspired.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Saturday Morning – Kids Room Clean Up

Does this look like a room in your house?  Chances are if you have kids, there is at least one bedroom that looks like this.  I can’t count how many times I have seen on Facebook posts about messy kids’ rooms.  From the frantic mom who is tired of yelling about cleaning it to the mom who cleans it and tosses (actually hides) everything that was on the floor.  I mean we have all been there, right?  I actually used to close the door to Belinda’s room so I didn’t have to see it as I walked down the hall.

Yup, I was one of those moms that didn’t clean their child’s room.  Dirty clothes not in the hamper, they didn’t get washed.  Friends stop by and room a mess – No, you can’t hang out in the living room.  It took a little while but it eventually worked – she at least kept her room neat.

Great advice from Organized Home for younger children:  “Get down to your child’s eye level to help him or her get organized. Look at your child’s space, storage, furniture and possessions from his or her vantage point. The view may surprise you!”

WOW!  Did that hit home… I wish someone had told me that when Belinda was younger.  Sticky dresser drawers are hard for small hands to manage. Folding closet doors pinch fingers and jump their rails when pushed from the bottom. Closet hanging rods are out of reach. Traditional toy boxes house a tangled jumble of mixed and scattered toy parts.

Here are some solutions:

Remove closet doors entirely.  I was so ahead of my time and I didn’t even know it.

Resist the urge to wade into the mess alone, garbage bags flying with gritted teeth and threats of “You will keep this room clean!”.  I’m sure you know that doesn’t work and is more stress than a busy mom needs, right?  As tough as it may be to bite the bullet, play the role of organizational consultant for your child.  Find out what’s working, what’s not, what’s important to them, and what is the problem.  A lot of times they will have the solution, they just don’t know how to tell you.  This one will take some time, but it will be so worth it in the long run.

Lower clothing rods and invest in child-sized hangers.  We put double rods in Belinda’s closet which allowed the things she didn’t need all of the time to be hung out of the way.

Kids are short so why not organize from the bottom to the top or the room. Most used toys and belongings on lower shelves, or in lower drawers. Higher levels are for less-used possessions or those “display” items that they can’t play with.  Don’t roll your eyes, we know that we have all put those kinds of things in our kid’s room.

Use floor-level open containers to hold toys, store socks and underwear.  We had lots of these in the closet.  The cubes could be turned around so when company came, they didn’t see what was in the cubes.

As adults, we rotate our clothes closet, right?  Why not do the same with our kid’s room?  Show them how to do it at an early age.  What clothes are out-of-season or have they outgrown?  Toys that they have outgrown – donate or share with them with other children who are less fortunate.  Toys they don’t play with but are willing to part with, box up and put away for a little while.  If they don’t ask for them again, then donate them.

To make things easier to maintain so that their room is clean and they can put things away – label, label, label 

Let’s make life easier for us as busy women by making things work for our kids.  Wouldn’t this be a more welcome site?

What is your best tip for keeping your kids room clean?  Share it with us, we can always use a new way of doing things.

Have a ThirtyOne-deful day!