Hiding That Cat Box

I'm not sure what made me start thinking about my cat box, but I started to think about the possibilities of camouflaging the cat box to help with loose kitty liter. My husband has already made a very nice kitty door in the basement bathroom, to keep the dogs out. But now I'd like to work on containing the kitty box itself. I guess I'm not the first, because after doing a search, several ideas popped up. 

This one is my favorite, but a bit to big for my space. 

Here are some additional pictures and ideas from IKEA Hackers.

Pass Your Extra Stuff Along!

Here are some organizations to think about when you are decluttering your home. Giving your items to others that need them, may make it easier.


Clothes:

www.glassslipperproject.org

www.dressforsuccess.org

Electronics: 

www.recyclewirelessphones.com

www.cristina.org

Eyeglasses: 

www.lionsclubs.org

Kids Gear:
www.kidsponge.com

Media:
www.thecdexchange.com

Shoes:
www.nikereuseashoe.com

Misc:
www.earth911.com
www.freecycle.org

Summer Zone Yard Work

Thanks to one of my online friends Cheryl, I just made up a daily zone list for my summer yard work. She uses a fabulous zone list for her property, so I've rearranged the days to fit our schedule and here is the outcome. I'm rather excited to get started and not leave the work to pile up on the weekends. The real benefit is stepping outside each day to enjoy the outdoors, even if it's only for 5 minutes. Taking pride in your property and your surroundings does wonders for the soul. 


Summer Zone Yard Work

Monday: Trash and junk patrol (carry a trash can or bag around, gather all trash, then keep that handy because more may turn up in the next step)...if you have dogs, now is the time to scoop that up, and if there are rocks on the lawn, scoop those up while you're at it or toss them by hand.

Tuesday: Mow, wack, prune, weed (if it's growing and needs trimming, do that)

Wednesday: Pick up and put away (pick up for mowing if you'll need to do that, straighten patio chairs, plant pots, etc...remove all the stuff that doesn't belong in this area, put it where it does belong, then whatever is left, tidy it up and make sure it's in its proper place).

Thursday: Clean and tidy (wipe chairs if needed, wash windows on the outside of the house that are in that yard, shake off doormats...just really quickly spend a few minutes making it presentable)

Friday: Repairs/projects/maintenance (if there's time left for it, if not, no worries, but if you have time, just pick 2 or 3 small projects or repairs that have been waiting, and do those: fix that sticking gate latch, repot that plant, put a nail in that loose board on the deck...things like that)

Hello, Hello, Hello!!

Sorry for the delay everyone. I was sick for most of the week, so brainstorming, blogging and organizing were put on hold for a bit. I'm ready to move on to a new work zone this week, but in the mean time check out this car organizer. I ran across the article in the Sunday paper and think it's a great item.  

http://www.organizeit.com/poswingawayxl.asp

Going Old School.....Storage Solutions for Board Games...Yes Board Games!

I was doing some more research on gaming system storage and came across this great video on storing "old fashion" board games.  Doesn't everybody have a Monopoly or Life game that is falling out of the box. These  storage boxes are great!



You can pick them up online at Amazon
or at OrganizeIt for about $12.00.


Here's are some other suggestions from About.Com. With a little care and effort, your board games can last forever in their original packaging.


___________________________________________________________________________________

Storing your board games and card games properly is important in order to ensure that they don't sustain any unnecessary damage. These tips should help your games last for many years to come.

Here's How:

1. If at all possible, store your games vertically. (Enclose the pieces in zipper-style baggies to avoid spilling.)
2. Stacking games oriented horizontally might cause the ones on bottom to be crushed.
3. If you must stack your games, alternate them so that they are cross-stacked and the sides of the games are absorbing the pressure. (Do not put a smaller game on top of a larger game, as this will cause the box top of the larger game to sink over time.
4. If even cross-stacking is not an option, place smaller games at the bottom of the pile. This reduces the amount of potential damage to box covers. Keep your piles relatively small.
5. When possible, store smaller games -- like card games -- in drawers.
6. Place a sheet of acid-free paper or plain cardboard between especially valuable games.
7. Do not use rubber bands because they will disintegrate over time and can cause damage to the box edges. If necessary, tie a piece of soft yarn around the game box.
8. Position your games so that direct sunlight doesn't hit them, since sunlight will cause the colors on the cover to fade.
9. Store your more valuable games in an enclosed shelving unit so that they can be kept as dust-free as possible.
10. Store your games in a room with controlled humidity.
11. Place a sheet of used fabric softener inside the box to give older games a fresh smell.

Tips:

1. Inexpensive metal shelves purchased at a home improvement can be a good low-cost storage option for board games.
2. If you have the ability, consider buying or building a custom wood storage cabinet for your games. Home improvement stores also sell enclosed plastic shelves (designed for laundry room use) which can provide some extra protection for your most important games.
3. Watch the temperature and humidity in the room where you keep your games. Old games in particular can be susceptible to mold.

 

Organizing that Gaming Mess

I'm getting ready to tackle my family room this morning and although gaming systems aren't a problem in our house, they are for many. For the few games we have I use the wonderful plastic shoe totes I talked about in the last post. If you have a lot of accessories and games to store, here are some organizing tips from Studio 5 news in Salt Lake City and I found some great links to these suggestions.


 

Create a Gaming Zone

Your gaming zone should house all your gaming items and will likely be by the monitor or TV where you actually play your games. There are a few possible exceptions to this zoning rule: (1) games that are used specifically for rewards, (2) games that are otherwise parent-regulated, and (3) instruction and playing manuals.



Contain

In order to keep your gaming zone relatively tidy, use some kind of containing. Many entertainment centers and armoires now come equipped with handy gaming storage features. But you don't necessarily need a piece of furniture to successfully contain your gaming equipment. Even if your gaming system didn't come with a storage case, you can find some economical and effective video game containing at your local big box retailer. Consider the following options:

• Controllers—Cords tend to be the biggest clutter culprit with controllers. To keep stray cords under wraps, you can use either a cable turtle (a sturdy, spindle-type container;  or Velcro cord wraps, available at do-it-yourself centers like Lowe's and Home Depot. (A caveat: the cable turtle is easier for little gamers to use, so unless you want to do cord control by yourself, choose this option.)  Cable Turtle

• Game cartridges and discs—Game cartridges and discs are the biggest gaming organizing challenge for a few reasons: they're small, they're easy (and expensive) to lose, and they are easily destroyed. To tackle this greatest organizing challenge, here are some of my favorite product picks:

• Game chamber video game storage organizer. If you have DS or DS Lite cartridges that are constantly AWOL, this organizer is your saving grace. This organizer is the ONLY locking organizer, which means that your child has to replace one cartridge in order to take out another. (Can you hear the angels sing?) At $19.95, this organizer (available in blue, pink and silver) is worth its weight in gold. The Game Chamber

• 3-ring binder with page protectors and alphabetized tabs. This low-cost, low-frills option will help you contain your cartridges and/or discs alphabetically. If you choose to store your discs using this method, you may wish to place them in paper disc covers so they don't scratch. You can also create an inventory of the games that should be in each envelope so you know what is, or isn't missing. You can also modify this storage option by using plastic CD storage pages.
• White plastic baskets from Walmart. This 3 baskets for $1 option is perfect for containing cartridges and discs. The pencil size basket is great for cartridges and the large size works well for discs. You can create homemade alphabet tabs so your games stay alphabetized as well. (These types of baskets are also available in black at Office Max.)

• CD/DVD boxes. This inexpensive and functional container is perfect if you have your original disc cases. Alphabetizing your games lends an even greater level of organization.

• Gaming consoles and ottomans— If you're looking for a more permanent gaming console, many furniture stores now carry entertainment systems and armoires with gaming accessible features. One of my favorite gaming furniture pieces of the season is an ottoman available at Costco for $89.99. This stylish, espresso-colored faux leather trunk holds—

• 2 guitars, microphone and drumsticks plus Rock Band or Guitar Hero drums, an Xbox wheel with pedals or a Wii Fit balance board. • 4 box controllers or up to 8 Wii remotes and 4 Nunchucks (in a drop-in plastic utility tray)
• 16 games (in a sliding plastic utility tray).

Gaming Ottoman

Establish Your System

Containing only goes so far in helping you keep your gaming equipment organized. You also need a system. Most gamer moms agree that the biggest challenge in keeping gaming items organized is making sure games get replaced in the correct cases—or at all. A simple system is all it takes to ensure that game time is more fun than frustrating. Try these top three tips:

• Establish and enforce a one-game-out-at-a-time policy.
• Create a check-out system for kids particularly prone to losing discs and cartridges.
• Create a gaming clean-up time (either after each gaming session, every couple of days, once each week) to make sure that nothing is lost and that your equipment is in good condition.

I also found this fun piece at sears. I think it's great for a kid who has their system in their room. It holds a TV,  the gaming system, some games and and the guitars.

The possibilities are endless. As with any system, it can be as simple or complex as you like. Spend some time searching "Gaming Storage" online and you'll be surprises at all the great products available.  My favorite product of this search are these sleeves that can save a ton of space. I've been considering them for our DVD collection, but they also have a set up for video games. You can check out this product here DiscSox   

Plastic Shoe Bins and Totes are a Mom's Best Friend

When reading Woman's Day this morning, it had a small paragraph about "Bin It". When my daughter was younger, using bins to organize everything in her play area was key. Not only to keep things organized and grouped together for my benefit, but those totes helped her find what she wanted easily and helped her put things away quickly.

Plastic shoe totes can vary greatly in price and shape. You can find them for .99 cents at the Dollar Tree or Big Lots or you can pay as much as $4.00 if you want a higher quality tote. I would suggest when you find a product and price you like, you purchase a large quantity. Even if you don't use them all now, having them the same size and brand will help with stacking and storage. We all know toys vary in size, so consider picking up some medium size totes while your at it. 

Once you have your totes, you can make this as simple or detailed as you like. Some suggest labeling your totes, other suggest photos or pics of items in the tote. Thinking back, I never did label my totes. If my daughter took something out, it was put back in when she was done. They were clear, so it made it easy to tell what was inside. 

 

Over at the Ducks In A Row ,  Laurel has some great examples.

 

If you are looking for something all inclusive, there are plenty of toy box options available in your local stores or online. I TOY BOX 

has some great pieces if you have a higher budget. 

 

Now, that we've covered the little ones, I'd like to say that storage bins aren't just for the little ones. Big Girls can use them for their "toys" as well. I'll share this great photo with you and save the details for another day!