Clutter Hack: How You Can Make the Most of Your Small Space
September 20, 2007
As someone who lives in Tokyo, small is the only way you can live. In general, I recommend taking advantage of “dead space” with rolling pieces of furniture. I also suggest using a few big pieces of furniture rather than a bunch of small ones.
Look for “wasted space’ in less obvious places. If you have free space above your glasses in your cabinetry, for instance, you can hang items on hooks above them. If your shelves are tall, put in racks to divide the space efficiently. This will help you fit more into the space in a tidy fashion. Continue Reading
Disaster Preparedness: Storing Vital Documents
September 19, 2007
The Red Cross will tell you that the first step to being prepared for a disaster is to get a kit. The Red Cross sells back packs full of supplies for $49.95 and $64.95. But I was curious about how to store all of the vital documents needed in a crisis. I’ve found three kits in different price ranges:
Smead’s Emergency All-in-One is available at Office Depot during hurricane season. Unfortunately it’s not available nationwide but if you live in the southeastern states or Texas, you may be in luck. Continue Reading
Reader Hack: A Great Kids' Art Supply Storage Solution
September 19, 2007
I’ve been told I’m a certifiable neat freak. Please forgive me; it’s most likely a result of my upbringing and my mother, Mother Immaculate. Just ask my older sister; she’s even neater than me.
As neat as I may be, there are definitely times when messy is good — like when my kids are finger-painting and making paper-mache.
As my kids got older, the art supplies became more numerous. Soon I had art supplies all over the kitchen and they began to overtake the top of my refrigerator.
I had to come up with a solution. Continue Reading