Stacey Crew

No More Crushed Bras

stacey — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:57:47 +0000

You spend lots of money on a good bra, then pack up for a getaway or business trip only to find that your bras have been crushed in transit. Well, not anymore! Last week, I received a sample of a CupCase, a durable, protective travel and storage case that will keep your bras from being crushed and creased. The best part is, the case is ADORABLE and not only can you pack you bras, but you can also include your jewelry, panties and hair ties or headbands. What a fantastic gift item for a bride to her bridesmaids with special underwear set for the big day. And a bride could use the CupCase to pack special items for her honeymoon. The purse-like case is durable, fun and functional. The price is just $19.95. Click here to check out CupCase.

Post Holiday Organizing

stacey — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:49:24 +0000

Thank you to Lisa, this month’s guest blogger…

After a full month of running around, making sugar cookies, calling relatives, cleaning the house, cooking hams, and Christmas shopping, you’re absolutely exhausted. But the fun isn’t over yet. After the Christmas season has passed, you have the whole mess of Christmas decorations to clean up. No need to be stressed out! Here are some tips that will get your house all cleaned up in no time:

Making Room for Gifts

If you’re a family that gets a huge influx of presents during the holidays, sometimes those gifts can add up and turn into clutter. To avoid Christmas clutter, toss out what you no longer need. If your husband went out and bought you a nice blouse, this is the perfect time to donate that old tattered shirt you’ve been holding on to. Anytime you bring something new into your home, remove something you no longer use: This will help you minimize clutter that can develop over time.

Get the Whole Family Involved

Assign everyone a task. Your daughter could have pack up the ornaments while your son could take down the tree or pack up the lights. With everyone lending a helping hand, cleaning up will take no time at all.

Toss Old Ornaments and Decorations

We know it’s difficult, but you should probably kiss that broken Santa ornament goodbye, now. While some decorations and ornaments will have sentimental value, it will help you stay organized (and sane) to part with beat-up items and keep your decorations to your very favorites. This means recycling or trashing all of that mangled decor.

With these tips, your house will be spotless in no time, even after the holiday chaos!

Lisa is a guest blogger and an expert on the topics of organization and Brooklyn Storage. She lives and writes in Austin, but her heart will always be in New York.

Newlyweds Make Organization Work for Them

stacey — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:54:42 +0000

Newlywed organization and the merging of two households can be challenging. Not only are you merging styles, but stuff too. Then there are the wedding gifts!

Each person brings with them a set of established habits that the other must learn to “live with.” In this brief interview, check out how this married couple is making it work!

1. How long have you been married?

May 29th, 2011 so about 5 months and we already act like an old married couple!

2. How did you choose where you would live as a married couple? Was it based on the size of the space, location, style?

We knew we wanted to stay in the same part of town since that’s where our friends and my family live. It’s in the middle of everything and you get the most value for your money. We decided to look at a neighborhood one of our friends lived in because it had brand new houses. We started by looking at floorplans together and discussed what we were both looking for in a house. For the most, part we liked the same things! It was a very quick process since he needed to have a place to live in as soon as possible. We went and looked at the three homes that were available and almost completed. The second house we toured had a perfect floorplan, nice big kitchen with all of the upgrades, a TON of storage/attic space and would be ready to move in within the month. It was the perfect size since it was four bedrooms (three upstairs with the master bedroom downstairs) – so just big enough for us to have our three children down the road. With the extra three bedrooms upstairs we had plenty of space, but can cut off the upstairs air conditioning, since for now we only need the downstairs for just two of us. Another deciding factor for my husband was the size of the fourth bedroom upstairs that was the room above garage — perfect for my husband’s “Man Cave.”

3. Does your style mesh with your husband’s? Describe your styles and how you’re working to create a space that showcases both of you and how organization plays a part in that plan.

We agreed from the beginning that he would have his one room upstairs in the house as his Man Cave that he could decorate however he wished…and I had the rest of the house! I thought that was a great deal. We still shopped together for the big items like furniture and luckily, we really do have the same style and easily chose our furniture. There were no issues deciding on that! I chose the paint color, pictures, etc. though. Recently, he’s been talking about how he wants one of those basketball shooting games and how there’s no room left in the man cave, so he wants to put it in the corner of our den or kitchen – HA…I will not let that happen, I just keep referring back to our original agreement!

4. Did you register for wedding gifts? Have they all been unpacked? Describe the influx and was it unexpected and a challenge to create space for the gifts in your new home?

Yes, we registered at Bed Bath & Beyond together and since we were moving into a new house and neither of us had lived on our own other than college, we literally needed everything! Therefore the gifts were unpacked immediately to start using and we had no issue making space since there was nothing occupying the space before!!

5. Who is the organized one in your new family?

That would definitely be me! I can’t stand not knowing where things are or when drawers get too cluttered or when there’s just random things being stored away or sitting around that take up space when they will never be used and should just be thrown away.

6. How do you keep a sense of humor about your differences and adjustments to life as a married couple?

You can only expect so much from a man when it comes to organization. I found a man who not only cooks (and cooks very well at that) but cleans too, so I truly can’t complain because I know that is a rarity and I’m a very lucky woman!!! If I have to do all of the organizing, at least I don’t have to do all of the cooking and cleaning too!

7. What’s the one thing about your husband that frustrates you when it comes to organization?

SHOES and clothes…. I pick up pairs of his shoes around the house DAILY to put them back in the closet – Sometimes four or five pairs at a time. He just doesn’t always “pick up” after himself in general – clothes will literally sit in a pile on our bedroom floor for weeks and weeks before he gets to the point that he can’t find clothes to wear to work so then he finally hangs them up or STUFFS them into a drawer without folding.

8. What’s the one thing that frustrates your husband about you when it comes to organization?

Easy – When I move his stuff! I try to organize the room and put his stuff away or put his clothes into one pile rather than sprawled all over the room but then of course he’ll blame me when he can’t find something since I’m the one who moved it.

New Year, Don’t Make the Same Mistakes with Your Time

stacey — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:25:23 +0000

Three Productivity-Killing Mistakes Nearly Everyone Makes

Here’s how to avoid them…What’s your typical day like? Do you feel like you’re stuck on a treadmill going slightly too fast? Always wishing there were more hours in the day? How about your priorities – do you feel like they’re getting tended to, or are you always putting out fires, one step behind?

Being stuck in a reactive, race from fire-to-fire, mode is a sure sign that you are making at least one, if not all, of the three most common productivity-killing mistakes.

Mistake #1: Confusing a laundry list with a to-do list. There is a significant distinction between a laundry list and a to-do list. A laundry list is simply a running tab of all the things, important or not, that you would like to get done. A to-do list should only comprise those 4-5 tasks per day that are truly important.

Mistake #2: Missing opportunities to batch similar tasks. When you approach your to-do list as series of individual tasks, you nearly always waste significant chunks of time. Tackling related tasks in one whack, whether they’re errands you need to run or phone calls you need to make, is the most efficient way from Point A to Point B.

Mistake #3: Failing to Look Ahead. It’s easy to do when you’re spending all your energy just keeping your head above water. But sooner or later, those important but not urgent things you keep neglecting will demand your attention – and wreak havoc on your schedule.

Pssst. I’m going to let you in on a little secret: there’s a brand new planning tool from the folks at Buttoned Up that will help you avoid these 3 productivity-killing mistakes.

But they’re going fast!

The new 2012 Weekly.agenda planner from Buttoned Up is specifically designed to prevent the 3 major time traps people fall prey to.

1. The 2012 Weekly.agenda Features Built-in Prioritization. This planner makes the distinction between must-do’s and nice-to-do’s. Each week features only 24 spots for prioritized to-do’s (that’s roughly 4-5 per day), which forces you to identify what really matters at the start of the week. Use the extensive lined notes section in the back to capture your laundry lists.

2. The 2012 Weekly.agenda Has Tools that Encourage Task-Batching. This planner not only separates contact-related tasks from work tasks, but it also has perforated errand and shopping lists built-in. All work together to get you in the habit of grouping like tasks so you crack through them more efficiently.

3. The 2012 Weekly.agenda Features Weekly “Plan Ahead” Ticklers. From reminders to swap out HVAC filters to a prompt to schedule a check-up with your doctor, this planner serves up one important-but-likely-to-be-forgotten task each week. Follow through on the suggested tip each week to keep your big picture running smoothly.

Of course, there are lots of other things to love about this elegant little planner, like three bonus months that mean you don’t have to wait until January to get started and a compact size that easily fits in any purse.

But like I said, they are going fast. I managed to convince the Buttoned Up team to set aside some planners just for 30 readers. But they’re only holding them for us for 5 days. So you need to act quickly. Click here to order yours now before they’re gone.

Teen Room Makeover

stacey — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 07:00:42 +0000

In today’s world or reduce, reuse and recycle, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to create a cool space for your teen. Paint is an amazing game changer because it’s easy, inexpensive and not permanent, which is great if you’re in a rental or temporary space. Most teens have eliminated the big bulky “toy” items and have slimmed down to sleek electronics. However, there still seems to be a lot of clutter to contain. For example, for girls, nail polish and hair accessories, jewelry and clothing. For boys, there may be video games and baseball cards (do boys still collect these??). To keep the clutter at bay, I suggest containing and labeling much of what can be taken out and looked at, as opposed to continually looking at the items (trophies, for example) that will likely just collect dust.

Another thing to consider when creating a cool space for a teen is a workspace, which can also function as a dressing table for girls. Your teen will likely wind up doing homework on their bed or sitting on the floor (add comfy throw pillows), but creating a workspace can encourage positive study habits.

A simple solution for containing the containers, if you will, is to use bookshelves. The shelves in this makeover are actually about 20 years old. They were one of the best investments I ever made! Not only are they fold-able, but they’re stackable too. I’ve used these in a bedroom, a storage area and now in my teen’s room, after repainting a crisp white. We already had all of the containers used in this project. I spray painted the round containers black. We used magazine holders for Teen mags and a pull out drawer for note cards and stationary. Yearbooks are in the mesh container on the bottom shelf next to scrap books.

The open shelving can present a slight feeling of clutter, but there's a place for everything!

Preserving a few memories of the past and displaying a current interest.

When it comes to repurposing items you already own, think outside the box. You may want to do this when it comes to a particular room too. In a recent home organizing project, we repurposed a client’s formal dining room into a study/arts & crafts/music room. Consider using an “old” table as a desk or a bookshelf as a container for baskets full of arts & crafts supplies, as opposed to the books that could be donated instead. There are many ways to increase functionality in a space, it just takes a little creative thinking.

Cut Costs by Clipping Coupons…

stacey — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:00:08 +0000

…say that five times fast!

Couponing has become a household word these days, especially in this economy. There are web sites, blogs and even TLC has introduced a reality show called Extreme Couponing. I don’t think I like the idea of stocking up on thousands of dollars of items, especially if you have to resort to installing shelving in your bedroom (as one extreme couponer on TLC did), but saving money is always a good thing!

Recently, a friend of mine, who coupons regularly and has a small but respectable stash in her garage, introduced me to triple coupons at our local Harris Teeter. I’ve got to say that I was ecstatic to have saved $35 and only spent $17—all on products I will actually use such as deodorant, chips, and a few other items.

Well, Smead Organomics has introduced a portable organizer for couponers more like myself who use store coupons and discounts received in the mail directly from retailers. It’s called the Tag Along Organizer and has five pockets and comes with 15 pre-printed labels.

Smead also provided me with some great tips to pass along to you:

Don’t overdo it—The sheer volume of offers that area available can make coupon clipping seem like a daunting task. Don’t get carried away. You save money when you use coupons on things that you plan to buy anyway. Don’t be tempted to by good deals on things you don’t want or need.

Keep your collection current—Make sure you weed out expired coupons regularly.

Be an organized couponer—Use a portable organizer or expanding file to keep coupons sorted. Then sub-organize by: product classification, expiration date, and store or mail location.

Look for ways to maximize offers—Sometimes you can save even more by using coupons on items that are already on sale or clearance. Merchants occasionally run “double coupon“ promotions. Check your packages and receipts for rebate offers and redeem them right away so you don’t miss out on the additional savings!

Happy couponing and, more importantly, happy savings!

What do to With the Kid’s Artwork

stacey — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:49:25 +0000

For parents, this is one of the big questions as the little Picassos start creating: How do I organize their artwork?

First, let’s keep it simple. Hang a few finished pieces on the refrigerator or even on the playroom wall.You can use removable strips and tabs to easily hang and change up each week. The bulk of the artwork can be placed in a container to be sorted later. The key here is to not let too much accumulate. It will be difficult to choose, but that’s the rub. Choosing will keep you from drowning in artwork and from having to spend much time later on.

Here are a few recommendations that can help you stay on top and keep the piles from growing.

1. Organize by age or school year. This will be a tough one, especially once your child reaches kindergarten and they have a birthday in the middle of the year. Therefore, before you little one officially starts school, organize their art by year. Choose a manageable size box for each year and once the box becomes full, only keep the most desirable.

Stockholm Boxes from the Container Store

2. Create a photo book. To hold onto the artwork forever and have it take up little space on a bookshelf, take photos of the artwork, then create a book at the end of the school year or after a birthday celebration. (Keep a back up of the photos on a dvd and you’ve potentially eliminated an entire box).

Photo Book by Shutterfly

3. Create a work of art with a collage poster. This is one of my favorite discoveries and you can simply ship off the original artwork, which is returned to you along with a custom collage poster of your child’s favorite artwork. A great way addition to any child’s room that will last a lifetime! (click on the photo below for more information).

Poster Collage by Jan Eleni

Colorful Collaboration with Fisher-Price

stacey — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:57:22 +0000

I’ve teamed up with Fisher-Price to offer expectant and new moms how-to tips for the nursery, creating baby zones in the kitchen, baby gear must haves, and on-the-go organization. These videos appear on the new Room to Bloom site and provide helpful tips for getting out the door with baby, where to put baby items in the kitchen, what tools you need to help you to keep baby occupied while you prepare bottles, and other must haves. In addition to the videos, Fisher-Price will post a series of blog posts that I’ve written especially to help new moms in all areas of the home and on-the-go. Stay-tuned as the blog posts are rolled out very soon. In the mean time, watch the videos for quick tips!

9/11 Changed My Views on Peace

stacey — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 18:03:10 +0000

Ten years ago today, I drove my two-year-old daughter to pre-school and brought my about-to-turn-one-year-old home for her morning nap. As we drove on 526 back toward North Charleston, the radio broadcaster announced that a plane had hit one of the twin towers. My first thought was that it was an inexperienced pilot in a small twin engine who veered off course and had a freak accident. I arrived home twenty minutes later, flipped on the tv, only to find out that it wasn’t a twin-engine. Then I watched another plane hit the second tower.

I immediately thought of all of my family and friends who were potentially in the burning buildings or nearby. It was hours before getting confirmation that my brother was alive 20 blocks north and that my brother-in-law who had an 11am appointment in the towers never made it to NYC. Days later, I discovered that a good friend had been running late for work and missed his train, thankfully; otherwise he could’ve been a casualty. There were many other friend’s of friends whose lives were changed that day.

My question is: How angry and resentful are people and/or a nation to exhibit that type of terrorism. The destructive nature of the attacks devastated so many families and continues to keep others in a state of fear. It is my opinion that only people who are terrified themselves would terrorize others and it’s this type of behavior that keeps hate alive.

People who are hurting have a tendency to take it out on others and there are those who are so desperate they commit thoughtless acts of cruelty. There are others too who are so unhappy with themselves that they create issue after issue with anyone they come in contact with–sometimes they hone in one person, making it their mission to destroy. This type of behavior is a highly selfish act and is the source of intolerance.

I’ve experienced personal attacks from fearful and frightened people who behave as there are no other choice than to fight to the death. This uncivilized behavior is that of unconscious, un-evolved, and reactive people. This type of person unknowingly wreaks the most havoc because if they truly realized what they were doing, wouldn’t they stop?

As I’ve aged, I realize now that life is messy and even if you try to simplify and eliminate toxic situations, there are occasions where, due to obligations to others, those situations can sometimes not be completely eliminated and you must learn how to cope.

I can only say to those who are hurting so badly that they need to deal with the hurt instead of continuing to inflict it upon others. We are all simply human, trying to get through this life. What is the sense of harboring resentment, inflicting hurt and trying to be “right.” There is no sense in that. Perhaps the world and our country will always be divided somehow, but we should act like human beings. There’s always an opportunity for peaceful resolution–it’s a choice as to whether you take the opportunity. Problem is: When a person wants to get their way…all the way. Life is a compromise and sometimes, as the song goes, “You can’t always get what you want!” Peace begins with each and every one of us: Stop hurting others, be kind and think about others, and do what you can everyday to bring about peace.

On the Road

stacey — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 17:29:46 +0000

One of the reasons I love to travel is the opportunity to meet people who I would never run into otherwise. Recently, I completed a 10-city media tour that had me bouncing in and out of different airports and time zones. I always find travel exhilarating, but there are those times when exhaustion and a bit of loneliness creep in. During this tour, I met several interesting and memorable people who helped me remember why I make the effort.

One evening, after a long day of travel, I decided to be among people and dined at the hotel bar instead of ordering room service and watching tv. As I sat enjoying some sliders, I couldn’t help but overhear and listen to three guys who were sitting within ear shot. They were part of a large group that had attended a networking event in the hotel earlier and they were attempting to impress a young woman with their wit, all the while talking about bands and life way before her time. She seemed most concerned with her wine, so I guess they served a purpose for one another–and me because I was thoroughly entertained.

On one flight, I was fidgety and hung out at the back of the plane listening to the flight attendants reminisce about the good ‘ol days when flying wasn’t equivalent to mass transit–more like what we’ll see in the upcoming drama series Pan Am. I was fortunate to have flown on British Airways many years ago when my grandparents returned to England after living in the states for more than 30 years. Everyone received a blanket, pillow and a hot meal during the flight–even those in “economy” class. Headsets were free and flight attendants somehow managed to maintain a pleasant demeanor during a long overseas flight.

During a layover in Dallas, as I searched for an outlet to recharge my cell phone, I wound up sharing a wall socket with an Army soldier who was headed home on a 2-week leave after being in Afghanistan for six months. We chatted briefly, enough time for me to find out that after his 2-week leave, he was headed back for another six months then he’s done with that tour. Once the flight landed in Sacramento, it was heartwarming to witness the reunion with his wife and four small children.

On one leg, I sat next to Larue, a retired teacher from Waco, Texas who was headed to the west coast to visit her brother. Larue said he had been sick so she needed to see him. Larue is 79 and it from what she said, she’s obviously in a reflective stage of her life. She was anxious about the flight, in total amazement about all that has happened in her lifetime including how all these people managed to get on a plane and go up in the air. At one point, the conversation turned to the movie The Help, which I watched recently (an instant classic, for sure!). She shared with me that making memories was the most important thing when it comes to family and how when she was a child, her parents would get permission to use part of a white person’s field so the family could have a picnic and make a memory. Larue also attempted to spread the word of Jesus and convert me, on the spot, but that’s another story entirely. As we landed, she instructed me to write down her contact information. I think I’ll send her a postcard!

Then there was Signa, a mom and a grandma, originally from new York, but living in Salt Lake City for the past 30 years. I was completely surprised when she revealed she was around 70! And even more surprised when I discovered her daughter lives less than a mile from me, two time zones from her mother. That evening when I arrived at my hotel, I already received an email from her daughter who I expect I’ll meet very soon.

It truly is a small world in many ways. We are somehow connected and you never know who you’ll meet if you’re open to it.