If you are anything like me, you have tons of little things floating around the house and you don't know where to put them. Things like old magazines, trinkets that you have collected over time, or items that you use everyday, but have no place to put them. And if you are also like me, then you are a really big fan of Martha Stewart, and when it comes time to find a solution to a domestically challenged problem you ask yourself WWMD?
So today, I decided to turn to Martha to get a few helpful hints on helping to organize your home, and quite possibly your life.
Cereal Box Organizer
If you are like a lot of people in America, then you eat a lot of cereal. The problem with eating all of this cereal, besides too many carbs, is what do you do with the box after you are finished. A lot of people just through it away. But, with this new trend all about being "green," there is even a way to make your garbage more trendy.
Martha suggests turning your cereal box into all types of organizers. Big ones can hold magazines, medium sizes can work for recipe holders, and the small ones can be used to hold supplies.
Charging Station
America may be the land of the free, but it is also the land of the cell phone. You can't go anywhere without seeing someone talking or texting on their cell. Take a look next time you go to the mall. The major problem is what to do with all the chargers. You don't want your cell phone, iPod, and Blackberry cords hanging all over the place. So Martha suggests that you buy:
Two cloth-covered boxes with hinged sides and grommet finger holes. ("Library project" cases, $17 each, containerstore.com)
Utility knife with a fresh blade
Metal ruler
Power strip (with an on/off switch to conserve electricity)
Self-adhesive Velcro strips
Self-adhesive cord hooks (3M Mounting Cord Clips, $3.50 for 4, amazon.com)
1 foot of 1/2-inch-wide ribbon (optional)
Glue (optional)
Station How-To
1. Prepare the bottom box: On the side of the box that has the grommet hole, draw a 1-inch-tall rectangle at the other end (trace a small Post-it note). Using a metal ruler as a guide, carefully score along this line with the knife until you cut through (do not try to pierce the box and then saw).
2. Push the prong end of the power strip out through the hole from the inside. Use the Velcro to anchor the power strip to the inside back of the box (or the bottom, depending on what best accommodates your adaptors). Plug in the adaptors, and thread their ends out through the grommet hole.
3. Prepare the top box: Space the cord hooks a few inches apart, attaching them near the back of the box to allow room for the gadgets when you shut the lid. Thread the device ends of the adaptors in through the box's built-in grommet hole, and anchor them under the hooks
4.Optional Finish the edge of the rectangular cutout with ribbon and glue. Also optional (if a little
messier inside): Use just one box, stick the power strip to the very back, and coil the cords with twist ties.
Tip: Leave the box open when recharging so heat doesn't build up, and so you don't forget to grab your gadgets on the way out.
Jewelry Storage
Us ladies have a lot of jewelry. Some of it is special occasion, others is just costume and great for adding color to a boring outfit. However, all of this jewelry ends up in a massive, tangled ball that even Clark Griswold wouldn't be able to take apart! But have no fear, Martha has a solution!
I think a lot of her ideas are generally good ones, and practical. But, sometimes she has a few that leave people scratching their head thinking, "who does this?" This is one of them.
Take antique tea cups and saucers and place them in a dresser drawer lined with velvet. This way you can see all of your jewelery. (Great if you have the china and velvet lined drawer.)
I hope you enjoyed today's tips, and even found some to be useful. For more organizing ideas, or ideas on other domestic areas, visit www.marthastewart.com
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