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

Fun Family Winter Activities

Don’t let winter get you down! Even if you live where the weather is frightful, there are plenty of delightful activities for you and your family to do. We compiled a list of some of our favorite ideas here, along with a few tips and useful products to help you get the most out of your experience!

Outdoor Activities with Snow

• Build a snowman or a snow fort
• Go sledding or snow tubing
• Go skiing
• Make snow angels
• Have a snowball fight
• Snow paint (see details below!)

How do you snow paint?

All you need is empty spray bottles, water and food coloring! Rinse out the bottles, fill them with water and add 20 drops of food coloring to each bottle. Start with 1 bottle each of red, blue and yellow. If you have more bottles, you can create more colors by combining them (just like in art class)!

• 10 drops of red + 10 drops of blue = purple
• 10 drops of red + 10 drops of yellow = orange
• 10 drops of blue + 10 drops of yellow = green

Your kids will love spray painting snow men, snowballs or just drawing pictures on that big white snow canvas!

Outdoor Activities (No Snow Required)

• Rent a cabin in the woods
• Go on a self-guided holiday light tour
• Collect pinecones and small evergreen branches to create a centerpiece
• Take a hike through the woods
• Blow bubbles and watch them freeze (below 32° F)
• Set up an “ice gem” treasure hunt for the kids (see details below!)

What are “ice gems”?

Ice gems are simply ice cubes that have been made with food coloring. Fill an ice tray with water, add 2 or 3 drops of food coloring to each compartment and put it in the freezer. Use different colors to represent different types of gems (rubies, emeralds, sapphires, etc.).

Indoor Activities

• Build a cozy blanket fort with lights
• Set up an indoor scavenger hunt
• Bake cookies
• Make paper snowflakes
• Make bird feeders (see below for details!)

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter (softened)
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup coarsely chopped nuts, if desired

Steps

1. Heat oven to 375°F. In small bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
2. In large bowl, beat softened butter and sugars with electric mixer on medium speed or with spoon until fluffy.
3. Beat in the egg and vanilla until smooth. Stir in flour mixture just until blended and dough is stiff. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
4. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.
5. Bake 8-10 minutes or until light brown (center will be soft). Cool 2 minutes. Remove cookies and place on cooling rack for about 30 minutes.  

If you would like to add this recipe to your collection, download the Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe card.

This blot post was courtesy of Thirty One Gifts. Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Personalize Holiday Gifts

Finding gifts for friends and family used to be easy for me….. I would note things there were interested in or wanted and probably wouldn’t buy for themselves or it would be something that triggered a memory.  Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons (mainly the MS) this has become more and more difficult.  If I don’t buy it or write it down when I am thinking of it….it is gone out of my head never to return.

I love giving things that are personal to friends and family.  I know it can be the difference between giving something they enjoy and something truly unforgettable. No matter how long your shopping list is this holiday season, these fun and creative ideas can add a personal touch which makes your gift one they’ll never forget! 

The holidays are a great time to celebrate the hardworking loved ones in your life. Maybe they’re driving the kids to and from practice and need some extra storage. Or they’re educating little ones and need a place to put all their classroom supplies. Or they’re nurses and need to be extra prepared for those extra-long shifts. Regardless, a Large Utility Tote or Medium Utility Tote will be a perfect fit for their busy schedules.  Here are some fun ways to personalize their bags:

For moms:

• • Chaos Coordinator
  • Too blessed to be stressed
  • Bless this Hot Mess
  • Wife. Mom. Boss.
  • Mom Life
  • Messy bun & gettin’ things done

For teachers:

• • Prepare to get schooled
  • Stop. Grammar time!
  • Because I’m the teacher, that’s why.
  • The influence of a great teacher cannot be erased
  • Teach, Love, Inspire

For nurses:

• • Work Hard. Stay Humble.
  • Sleep all day, Nurse all night
  • Boo Boo Crew
  • Hair up, Scrubs on
  • Comfort & Joy

 

Home is where the heart is, so help your friends and family make their space festive for the holidays with some of these keepsake decorations. Our Statement Canvas Pillow Cover is perfect for any room – and with so many options for embroidered or printed personalization, you can be sure to find something for that special person in mind.

Here are a few ideas for personalization:

• • Choose a Christmas Tree with the phrase “Home for the Holidays”
  • Use a festive lyric like “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
  • Add a name along with a snowglobe or snowflake design
  • Insert Baby’s name with the phrase “First Christmas”

Other products like the Close to Home™ Round Tray are perfect for those who love to host friends and family for those big holiday meals. And with the endless possibilities of playful personalized phrases that can be added, their guests are sure to be served well.

• • Eat, Drink & Be Merry
  • Let’s eat!
  • All are welcome
  • The Miller Family
  • Gather Here
  • Eat, Pray, Love
  • Bless this Home

 

For all those people in your life who have a flair for the dramatic, our bold products and prints are sure to fit their personal style. Plus, by adding some sassy personalization to go with it, their one-of-a-kind bag can complete any look.

Our classic Cindy Tote™ Ltd., casual Retro Metro^® Bag or new Festival Mini Backpackall make great gifts for those who want to stay on trend this season.

Personalization makes any bag mean even more:

• • hello.
  • Girl Boss
  • DREAMER
  • Spread love.
  • Can’t dull my sparkle!
  • Add their first name in Swirl or Script font
  • Highlight their initials in an embroidered monogram featuring feathers or hearts

Whatever you pick, remember about 90% of Thirty One’s products can be personalized… make the gift you give this holiday season one they will remember.

Have a blessed day!

 

How To Do Fall Cleaning….

I will be honest, despite years of growing up and helping with “fall”‘ and “spring” cleaning.. it is not one of my strong points.  When I first had my own apartment, yes I cleaned bi-weekly.  Fast forward to being a crazy busy single mom, and cleaning was not on the top of my list.  The house was always neat but there have been the occasional dust bunny.  Now, when I struggle with days of not being able to move, I can see the dust bunnies and want to clean. YES!  I said I want to clean.  Then when I feel better, I am playing catch up and still don’t get everything done I wanted to do.

So, you are wondering how someone like me, can teach you about “fall cleaning”, right?  Well this is more about “decluttering” which may or may not lead to cleaning.  BUT it will help you get organized which could make cleaning much easier..

Step #1 – Determine if your clutter is, well, clutter.  

I know this may sound like a no-brainer but sometimes clutter is hard to recognize. Yes, it is true!   Seriously, hear me out.  We live in our house day-in and day-out, so clutter really becomes part of the landscape. Maybe you don’t recognize the piles and groupings of stuff because it’s become the norm. You know the pile of mail you are going to get to.  Or the stack of papers to be filed in the office.  Maybe it is the shoes piled by the door and never making their way to the closet.  Whatever your pile looks like, we are pretty good at ignoring clutter, or just plain not realizing when it’s moved in.

So, when do you realize it is clutter?  When you can’t find something you’re looking for, or realize you have bought something you already had – costing time and money. Admit it, you have run to the store to get something only to find it about a week later (after the tags were off and you can’t return it).

Are you wondering if you have clutter?  Try this:  Take a photo of the space in question.  Start small with a drawer, a closet shelf, or a bookcase. Zoom in on the photo. How does the stuff make you feel? Are you horrified what others would think if they saw it?  Does it make your head spin wondering how this happened?  Do you use all of the stuff? If so, how often? How would your life feel if the space was tidy, leaving room to grow?

The answers to these questions are a great indicator there is work to be done.

Step #2 – Accept you probably do need to declutter

Have you recovered from the shock of seeing the pictures of your clutter?  Have you now started to stress over whether or not you can part with ANY of this stuff?

Even with you think you have pruned your closets, drawers and home, you will likely still pick items up and think, “Why did I keep this?”  Life tends to bring new items into our space each day, and we frequently fail to recognize the pace at which we are accumulating things.

I used to clean out closets twice a year.  Donating them to the church rummage sale or Goodwill.  The biggest one was always before the holidays especially when Belinda was younger.  I knew the gift giving season would bring a whole lot more “stuff” while there were many things sitting in the bottom of the toy box which hadn’t see the light of day in years.  Now, as I notice things are no longer used or needed, they go in the box in the garage to be donated.  Slowly, I am decluttering…

Step #3 –  Let yourself let go

How many items do you have which you have only used once a year or maybe once in five years?  It is sitting there taking up space, right?  You wonder how you could live without it.  I have a wok which I have had for years and it hasn’t been used in years…. why?  you never know.

Ownership is overrated. We often feel we need to own something to enjoy it.  How many things do you have which you could have rented or borrowed instead?  The truth is we may get more pleasure out of borrowing or renting something than actually owning it.  Sounds crazy, right?   Well, when we own something, it requires we clean it, move it, store it, maintain it, and maybe even insure it.  It all takes energy. Be open to alternative ways to access and enjoy physical objects.

Step #4 Baby steps when setting organizing goals

Yup, I hit you with a lot in just a short period of time, right?  I know it is overwhelming.  What happens when you get overwhelmed?  If you are like me, you run and hide.  NO, seriously.  Do you avoid the situation?  Most likely, when you are overwhelmed, you lose interest and momentum.  So what if you just took baby steps.  Do a little bit every day.  Continuity is key.  Do small spaces first, as you do small spaces, you will begin to see the difference around you and you will feel energized to do more.

Organizing is not an end destination, it’s a process of acquiring skills, applying them, and being committed to being organized every day.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

When You Feel You’re Not Enough

Thank you Sharon Jaynes for today’s message……

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV).

When I was six years old, I skipped off to school with a new box of crayons, a Swiss-polka-dotted dress, and fresh hope that I would be smart. But first grade only confirmed my greatest fear. I was “not enough.”

As soon as my first-grade teacher held up that initial spelling flashcard, I knew I was in trouble. We lined up our miniature wooden chairs in a row like a choo-choo train. The teacher held up a spelling flashcard for us to identify the word. If we missed the word, we had to go to the caboose. I spent most of the first grade in the caboose. I just couldn’t spell to save my life. For some reason, I especially had trouble with the word the.

I’ll help her, my teacher must have thought. She made me a nametag that read

t-h-e, and I had to wear it for two weeks. Students came up to me and asked, “Why are you wearing that tag?” “Is your name ‘The’?” “You must be stupid.” “What’s wrong with you?”

Well, I learned how to spell the word the, but that’s not all I learned. I learned I wasn’t as smart as everybody else, and once again, not enough. And even though I ended up doing well in school, many times I’ve still felt like that little girl in the caboose of the spelling train.

Moses was a man who felt he wasn’t good enough. When God spoke to him through a burning bush and called him to lead His people out of Egyptian bondage, he had a big case of the “not good enoughs.”

That’s when he had a one-sided argument with God. Moses told God he was the wrong man for the job. He wasn’t brave enough, strong enough, smart enough, eloquent enough, charismatic enough, or confident enough.

At one point, Moses said, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:13-15).

Moses was 80 years old when he had his argument with God at the burning bush. But even the weakest knees in the hands of I AM can become a mighty force to be reckoned with.

I’ll go out on a limb and say that you too, at one time or another, will struggle with feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy just like Moses did. And the underlying statement feeding the sense of worthlessness is “I’m not __________ enough.” You can fill that blank in with any number of qualities.

But here’s what we need to remember: Whatever we feel we are not, God is. He is the God who fills in our gaps; He is I AM who fills in our blanks.

When we say, “I’m not strong enough,” God says, “I AM.”
When we say, “I’m not wise enough,” God says, “I AM.”
When we say, “I’m not bold enough,” God says, “I AM.”
When we say, “I’m not smart enough,” God says, “I AM.”
When we say, “I’m not good enough,” God says, “I AM.”

Once we let go of the lies that we are not enough and take hold of the truth that we are more than enough because of Jesus’s presence and power in us, then we will be set free from paralyzing insecurity and be on our way to experiencing courageous confidence to do everything He calls us to do. It’s time get out of the caboose and sit up front with the Chief Engineer.

You want to know something amazing? One of my greatest weakness as a child was spelling words. And now that is what God has called me to do today…write with words. I stand with Paul who lamented about his weakness: “But he [God] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV).

That’s what happens when we allow God to fill in our blanks. He turns what we perceive as our greatest weakness into our greatest strengths.

What is God calling you to do today? In what areas do you feel that you’re not enough? Oh friend, because of Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross, and His power in you, you are more than enough! Don’t forget it.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

NOTE:  Photo by Hello I’m Nik on Unsplash