Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Check, please

furniture cover, potterybarn.com
I know more lists, we write them, read them, save them and always there is more to do- especially when the seasons are changing. Summer clothes need to be stored, beach and boat gear moves down to the basement, storm doors and rakes are moved out. Recently I bought a ConsumerReports, shop smart  magazine, which I never do, but they had a special issue all about organizing and I always love to discover an untapped resource. This magazine gets right to the point and provided a house Fall checklist that anyone could follow and put to use. When the craziness of summer winds down, I always think fall will be a great time to conquer house projects- wrong, the schedule continues to be in full swing, but read this list and grab a few hours- your house can make the leap into Autumn.
1. Hose off the gear- clean off the gardening gear, stack pots and lay newspaper in between fragile ones to protect from scratches and chips. Use a storage bench or cabinet for large items and a tote bag for smaller hand tools.
2. Summer clothes- If you need to preserve precious closet space, get a garmet rack and store it in the basement- clean clothes first. Use bins for t-shirts, shorts and bathing suits- try ones that slide under the bed, put a dryer sheet in before closing so clothes smell fresh. Under bed storage bins, canvas or clear are great for summer shoes.
3. Summer towels, blankets and linens- Clean out the linen closet and place in jumbo storage bins, bonus- place outdoor plates and cups on top. If the basement is getting crowded use vaccuum sealed space bags and smoosh onto the highest shelf.
4.Outdoor furniture- If you do not have basement room or and outdoor shed, there are products to help protect your furniture during the winter. A moisture proof container will protect cushions. Vinyl furniture covers will keep patio sets safe. Use odor/moisture absorbing crystals (Damprid) in bins for an extra advantage. Before storing any wood furniture, rub it down with a generous amount of lemon oil, that will help it from drying out.    
shoe storage, lillianvernon.com



Monday, October 10, 2011

Mom, I don't Feel Well...





The rain has stopped, the sun is finally out and we are hopefully in for some beautiful fall weather. I love when a little chill in the morning gives way to a warm afternoon . Change of season is a way of life where we live, but so are colds-ugh, before the sniffles settle in dive into the medicine cabinet!!!
 It may have been awhile, so first, throw out all the expired medication, over the counter and prescription. Make a list of what you will need to replace. If you are lucky enough to have a cabinet, group the like meds together- kids meds on an upper shelf and then adult meds for colds, pain-medication, allergies down low.  Once the shelves are put into order address a lot of the unused space. Martha Stewart suggests installing metal sheets which are magnetic, small items can hang vertically! Also adding hooks or self adhesive cups (don't forget the inside of the door)can add lots of room for tools, toothbrushes- really any little knick knacks. I also love her use of clear, mini shelving and containers, stack nail polish or put q-tips together.
If a medicine cabinet does not exist in your bathroom, a vanity may be your only option. Storage boxes or bins can be used for meds, again always check for expiration dates and separate kids and adults. If you use a drawer, dividers are a must. The door still can be put to good use with hooks and suction holders. A vanity can also be a wonderful storage option for extra shampoos, lotions, TP, and towels. One last tip- create a small spot in a kitchen cabinet for the meds you use daily: vitamins, Advil, band aids, Claritin, whatever, this way you will be ready when the medical crisis strikes!