The Best Bins for School Supplies
It’s back to school time! Can you believe the school year starts in just a couple of weeks?! This summer has flown by and it’s time to get the whole family ready for the start of the school year again. We’ve been there, and we’ve found a few tools along the way that make it all go a little more smoothly.
It’s back to school time! Can you believe the school year starts in just a couple of weeks?! This summer has flown by and it’s time to get the whole family ready for the start of the school year again. We’ve been there, and we’ve found a few tools along the way that make it all go a little more smoothly.
There are so many school supplies to be purchased and stored for the coming school year. Here are a few of our favorite bins to keep it all organized and functioning all school year long!
Latch Bins
Bins with latches work amazingly well for school supplies. You can find them at many stores and in an array of different sizes that work well for many items (pens, pencils, markers, crayons, paper, scissors, etc.).
File Boxes
File boxes are the best way to keep all those important papers your child brings home from school stored and organized, while also keeping them from getting crumpled. Put your child’s name on the front of the box and have a file for each school year. This is a great way to not only avoid losing papers, but also to store keepsakes from your child’s time in school.
Rolling Carts
Okay, so we know this isn’t really a storage bin, but rolling carts are great from storing school supplies at home. They’re also great for creating a homework station for your kids.
Does the thought of the looming school year overwhelm you? Let us help you get your home organized and routines set in place so that your whole family can start the school year strong!
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Essentials for Road Trips with Kids
Going on vacation can be such a fun and enjoyable experience, but if you don't prepare ahead of time it can be totally miserable. So, how do you prepare? What do you do? Here are some essential items to have on hand in the car while on a roadtrip.
Going on vacation can be such a fun and enjoyable experience, but if you don't prepare ahead of time, it can be totally miserable. So, how do you prepare? What do you do?
Here are some essential items to have on hand in the car while on a road trip:
First Aid Kit: For obvious reasons, but also because band aids have the power to make everything better! Lol
Toothpaste and toothbrush or Mouthwash: After hours in the car, you may want to freshen up.
Trash Bags: Trash bags are always good to have, but especially when eating on the go, and especially with children.
Diaper Disposal Bags: If you’re traveling with little ones in diapers, you will definitely want some diaper trash bags that can be tied up to keep the smell contained.
Water: Always keep water on hand both for just staying hydrated and in case of emergency.
Rag Towels: Old rags or towels are great for cleaning up spills in the car.
Hand Wipes: Having some sort of hand wipes or sanitizer is definitely a must.
Toilet Paper: For those with toddlers and young kids, traveling with a kids portable potty is a great idea for when they have to go NOW and you’re nowhere near a restroom (or the restroom is just too nasty). So, toilet paper is definitely necessary for the kids, but you also never know when a public restroom may be out of toilet paper as well.
Snacks: You definitely need snacks to keep the grumpies away.
Toys/Prizes: Go to the dollar store or target dollar spot and purchase small toys and prizes for the kids. Keep them in a bin and dole them out every few hours to keep the kids happy.
That’s all!
Keep these items stored in a latch bin so you are both organized and can have peace of mind knowing that as things get shifted around on the car ride they will stay put.
Now go have a fantastic road trip with your family!
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Summertime Staples
We’ve organized a lot of homes over the years and have come to find that many people seem to have the same “summer staples”. These are items that are easily packed and unpacked from your vehicle as well as readily available to haul and use around your home for casual get togethers. Here is a list of our “summer staples”.
During the summer with longer daylight hours, there is so much more time to spend outdoors. Whether it’s at the pool, going to the beach, or having a backyard BBQ!
We’ve organized a lot of homes over the years and have come to find that many people seem to have the same “summer staples”. These are items that are easily packed and unpacked from your vehicle as well as readily available to haul and use around your home for casual get togethers.
Here is a list of our “summer staples”:
Ice Chest
Table & Chairs (preferably portable)
Tents
Sunscreen
Bug Repellent (spray and citronella candles)
Beach/Pool Towels
Sunglasses
Hat
Beach/Pool Bag
Portable Dog Bowl
Designate a section of your garage or storage room to store all these items, keeping smaller items in a labeled latch bin to make the packing and unpacking less demanding. You can even get your family involved in the process making attending and hosting events a breeze!
Now go out and ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!!
Desperate for your kids’ rooms and playroom to be functional? Summer is a great time to organize kids’ spaces while they are at home and out of school. We can work with them to create routines and establish good habits in preparation for the school year!
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A Hurricane Prep Guide
Certain sounds from hurricanes stay forever embedded in our mind. The loud thud of trees hitting the ground, screeching and howling as the winds whip around your house and the waves of pounding rain as the hurricane bands pass by. It can get scary at times for sure and you have to be ready to evacuate or hunker down. Here are a few tips from this seasoned southern organizer that can help you if you are new to this season.
HURRICANE PREP
Certain sounds from hurricanes stay forever embedded in our mind. The loud thud of trees hitting the ground, screeching and howling as the winds whip around your house and the waves of pounding rain as the hurricane bands pass by. It can get scary at times for sure and you have to be ready to evacuate or hunker down. Here are a few tips from this seasoned southern organizer that can help you if you are new to this season. It’s certainly not everything but it’s a good start! It may just be refresher info for those of you seasoned Gulf Coasters.
The CDC breaks down prep into 2 categories: Prep before and actions after. I am addressing the prep before the storm here.
PLAN
Review your homeowner’s insurance. This needs to be done prior to storm season because by the time it’s in the gulf, it’s too late to change anything. Here’s a link with some great questions to ask your agent.
Make sure you have emergency numbers stored in your phone. This includes but is not limited to your doctor’s numbers, local police or fire and rescue numbers, local hospital, utility companies, your veterinarian, animal control, family members, insurance agent, boss, school/daycare, and neighbors. I keep a printed backup copy with my important papers just in case something happens to my phone. Here is a free printable from Apartment Guide so you can have these numbers on hand.
Personal papers such as insurance papers, passports, birth certificates, immunization records, wills, vet records and anything else deemed important should be kept in waterproof bags or containers. See example here.
Create a First Aid kit or order one online. These can include non-prescription meds. Talk with your doctor about getting an emergency supply of essential meds as well as a list of current medication, dosages, allergies and any other pertinent medical information that you may need to know.
Have emergency power sources in case you lose power. Make sure your electronics are charged ahead of time. (Extra battery phone chargers, flashlights with extra batteries, hearing aid batteries, generators, car chargers.) Here is a list from the CDC.
Have a printed evacuation plan (in case your phone isn’t working) and an emergency plan for tornados. If you have pets, be sure to include them in this plan. This includes names and phone numbers of hotels that allow pets.
Protect Home-board windows and secure anything that might fly away. This is when my kids realize I have a million potted plants! lol
Clean your shrimp boots.
Clean your margarita machine.
STOCK UP
Infant care items
Pet care items- medicines, leashes, bowls for food and water. They will need good collars with their tags attached. Make sure their vet records are with your important papers.
Emergency food and water. CDC recommends 1 gallon of water per person per day. Food that needs little to no prep and no refrigeration is recommended because you may not have utilities. Plan for people with special dietary needs such as the elderly or infants. Here is more information about emergency foods.
Don’t forget to include contacts, contact solution, asthma inhaler, blood sugar monitor or any other items that you or a family member will need if you have to evacuate.
Gas-For car and generator!
Paper goods-Be sure to include a manual can opener.
Covid-19 protection-Masks, hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes, and gloves.
Ziploc bags filled with ice or freezing water bottles can help keep your freezer and refrigerator cold for a little bit if the power goes out.
Hurricane drink supplies.
Toilet paper-I may become a toilet paper hoarder after the Covid-19 shortage!
WE NEED AS MUCH PEACE OF MIND AS WE CAN GET NOT ONLY IN THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES, BUT ESPECIALLY IN HURRICANE SEASON AS WELL. IF YOU ARE FEELING OVERWHELMED WITH ANY SPACE IN YOUR HOME AND NEED HELP GETTING ORGANIZED, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT US AT 225-205-6400. WE ARE HAPPY TO HELP!
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How to Put Together a Vacation Capsule Wardrobe
After months of quarantining in our homes, are you ready for that favorite summer getaway? It’s needed even more so this year. I am truly tired of my own home and I LOVE my home. Let’s get you ready to GO! Alexandra Martin from Hemline Towne Center Boutique joined us on our Facebook live and showed us how to put together a capsule wardrobe for vacation. Read on to discover all her fabulous tips!
After months of quarantining in our homes, are you ready for that favorite summer getaway? It’s needed even more so this year. I am truly tired of my own home and I LOVE my home. Let’s get you ready to GO!
“Capsule wardrobe is a term coined by Susie Faux, the owner of a London boutique called "Wardrobe" in the 1970s. According to Faux, a capsule wardrobe is a collection of a few essential items of clothing that do not go out of fashion, such as skirts, trousers, and coats, which can then be augmented with seasonal pieces. This idea was popularized by American designer Donna Karan, who, in 1985, released an influential capsule collection of seven interchangeable work-wear pieces.” -Wikipedia
Alexandra Martin from Hemline Towne Center Boutique joined us on our Facebook live and showed us how to put together a capsule wardrobe for vacation. Read on to discover all her fabulous tips!
5 reasons why a capsule wardrobe is great. (for vacation and in regular ‘ol life)
• You use items you already have
• Just a few new on trend items changes your look.
• Mixing and matching classic pieces creates hundreds of different looks with just a few items.
• Invest in the basics by buying high quality items that last longer. Some can be worn year-round.
• Accessories take up less space in a suitcase or closet but can make an outfit go from day to night.
Items you need: video items from Hemline are in parentheses.
• Short sleeve top- focus on things that can be styled a variety of ways. (Layered or worn with different bottoms)
• White short sleeve top (White eyelet)- Elevate your typical tee with a white top that can be worn with shorts and sneakers during the day or dressed up with wedges and jeans in the evening.
• Light weight blouse (Tie dye pink)- this could be a fun summer color. A blouse can be trendy but also last long after summer is gone. You want to choose one that mixes and matches with the shorts and jeans that you are bringing. This is definitely an investment piece that can be worn over and over.
• Classic cotton tee- laid back, easy to throw on with shorts, leggings or jeans and a pair of sneakers or flip-flops.
• 2-3 Shorts (High waist, tie front)- keep it simple. Neutral color.
• Jeans (white skinny jeans)- white jeans in the summer look great with any top! Very versatile.
• T-shirt dress (Short black)- you can’t go wrong with this one. Easy one and done look. Comfortable and flowy. Can be worn with a variety of accessories for various times of day.
• Button front dress (Striped tie waist dress)- effortless and easy. Perfect for date night or “off duty.” Can be versatile by varying shoes (Sandals, white sneakers, or classic wedges).
• 3 shoes. Yes, I just typed that. Seriously. You can do it. I’m not sure I can. white sneakers (quick slip on for shopping time!), neutral sandal/flip-flop (beach to pool or even lunch), nude wedge or block heel (jeans, shorts or dress. Elevates your look).
• Hat- Martha-Carol added this one because she loves hats!
That’s it. Now throw in your swimsuit, towel, hair and makeup stuff and off you go! Enjoy! Don’t forget the sunscreen!
To see the video in full, click here.
Need help paring down your closet to the essentials? Let us help you! Call us at 225-205-6400.
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