Marilyn Bohn | Creative Organizer

I am all about saving time. I like string cheese. The first time I remember having it is when I first learned how to cross country ski. My friend I was going with said to bring gorp and string cheese. I didn’t know what either of those things were at the time. But I soon found out and have enjoyed both on and off the mountain ever since. (As a side; I was so nervous about going skiing I locked my keys in the truck as I got out to ski, thank goodness for AAA).

What does string cheese have to do with time management? Do you ever buy those big packages of cheese? When you want one you have to stand with the refrigerator door open and get into the main packaging and then take out the strip of cheese and then strip the piece you want to eat.

Photo of cheese broken up

To save time when you get home from the store and are putting away the groceries take a few minutes (or have a child do it) and take apart the cheese. This will save you time later and save your refrigerator from being open longer than necessary.

Photo of cheese in bag

Then put the cheese in a baggie. The next time someone wants a piece of cheese it is easy to get just one.

What time saving tip do you use in the kitchen?

Bookcases are wonderful pieces of furniture that can be used for more than books. This bookcase is used for:

•Nick knacks
•To hold homemade quilts
•Photo Albums
•Books

Be creative, think outside the box and load up your bookcase with anything you want. A few simple ‘rules’:

•Make it attractive
•Don’t stuff or clutter the shelves
•Line books up by height within categories

What do you use your bookcases for besides books? What is your favorite thing you put on your bookshelves?

Do you sometimes think if everything is not lined up perfectly then it isn’t organized? Do you get a perfectionist complex? Not that that is bad if that is what makes you peaceful and happy. I just wanted to show you this as an idea.

The DVD’s and VHS movies are all contained in this piece of furniture. There are also several cases holding DVD’s and CD’s. At first glance it isn’t what you would find in a magazine showing what organization looks like, but look again it is very organized.

Things do not have to be perfect to be organized. Just having all like things together so when you want them is being organized. As I work with people as a professional home organizer some people not only want to have everything lined up but we go one step further and separate by type of movie (comedy, drama, family etc). We put colored circle stickers to designate what type of movie it is so they can all be put back together by subject.

No matter which way you chose to organize, do it according to your own style, which is perfect for you as it is your way.

What way have you found successful to organize your DVD’s, CD’s and other movies?

I recently visited my daughter and in their rented home there is only one bathroom. There wasn’t any room to hang my travel organizer—It is the blue bag on the right in this basket. It is wonderful; it has a hook to hang it from a towel rack, hooks, shower rods and knobs. I purchased it at L.L. Bean in Maine. They come in all sizes. It has pockets and dividers to keep things organized within the bag. I also like it when I am camping, I just hang it on a branch and it even has a non-breakable mirror inside. It keeps everything handy and in one place.

But this time there wasn’t room for this or my other items. I couldn’t even leave out my tooth brush as all three of us have identical ones. So I came up with the idea of putting all my items I needed daily from make up, tooth brush and lotions etc. in a basket. It worked great as it was portable and held everything together.

I wanted to share what turned out to be a great idea when staying in someone else’s home; most people have an extra basket or two that can be used. A box would work well too. It was a great idea for a small space and it was portable and kept everything handy.

What solutions have you found when you have been a guest in someone else’s place when space is limited? I would like to know how you’ve solved the problem.

Here are two great storage containers for projects you are working on and need to have a place to contain the pieces and keep them all together.

Pizza boxes make great containers to store unfinished projects in. Use only unsued boxes. They may charge 25 to 75 cents per box. They come in a variety of sizes and can even be covered.

I used fabric and fusible web to cover this box. It took about 40 minutes to cover this size. You just make a pattern with a box (flatten one out and then glue back together) and trace around the box for your pattern. Using the pattern, trace it onto the fusible web and iron it to the fabric following the manufactures directions. Then with your iron fuse to the box. What do you think of it? It’s kind of cute don’t cha think? I have only made two—one to keep and one to give away.

The other freebie is the plastic containers that sheets, blankets, comforters, table cloths and other linens come in. They have zippers and keep everything together as well as dust free.

What is your favorite project container you have found for free?

What a great idea these shoe racks are in the garage. These are inexpensive cubes which can be purchased at places like IKEA, variety stores, home centers, specialty stores, and container stores.

This one is in the garage and obviously they keep their outdoor shoes in it. Because it is vertical it doesn’t take up much space, the shoes are handy when leaving the home and the mud stays outside.

This is large enough that it can also be used for other items like the yellow pages phone book. They don’t use them very often as they prefer the Internet, yet the books are handy to the kitchen if they do ever want them. (Maybe as a booster chair for little children to sit on).

When I work with people in their homes as a professional home organizer I find it has become acceptable to remove shoes before going into the house, in fact it is encouraged to do so. Some of us struggle with our family members to do this.

What solution have you used to get your family to take their shoes off outside? Where do they put them when they do take them off?

Here is an idea on how to organize towels in a bathroom. It is great in small spaces or when there is limited storage space. Or when there is plenty of room for storage this can be used and it is pretty and functional at the same time.

Look for this or similar towel holders in your local home store, container stores, variety stores, and specialty stores.

I have said before towels can also be stored in baskets on the back of the toilet, hung on hat racks, install several hooks along a long wall, baskets can be hung on the wall and towels rolled up and placed in them.

Working as a professional home organizer I am always looking for ways to save space and have attractive organizing containers and ideas. Do you have any ideas you can share to organize towels? What have you done with your towels?

I was just given this recipe the day before Easter. I thought it was interesting and something I would like to share with everyone.

This recipe makes meringue cookies. This is a wonderful way to help children (and adults) learn what Easter is all about. Enjoy and have a happy Easter.

Easter cookies are to be made the evening before Easter Sunday.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (Don’t wait until you’re half done with the recipe.)

1 cup whole pecans Zipper baggie
1 tsp. Vinegar Wooden spoon
3 egg whites Tape
Pinch salt Bible
1 cup sugar

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested. He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Palms 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents — in God’s eyes — the purity of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper-covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.

Go to Bed. Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.

Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow!

On the first Easter, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

HAPPY EASTER

The Easter Bunny came to me early this year. One of my favorite things is getting packages in the mail and what a surprise to me to have the bunny deliver my Fun Find in a package which was delivered to me in the mail.

This purse hook is beautiful and functional. I found it at the Brighton jewelry store and at first thought it was a key chain or something, I wasn’t sure what it was intended for. The sales woman demonstrated that it is a hook to put on a table or desk to keep purses off the floor. She also said some companies give them to their employees as gifts for different holidays. Wouldn’t you like to work for a company that is so thoughtful of their employees and give such unique gifts?

The hook is perfectly balanced and does indeed hold a heavy purse. It even has soft material of some kind on the back that protects wood tables. What a fun find.

With little bathroom space and a lot of people using the shower or tub I think this is a good idea on where and how to store tub toys.

My daughter puts the toys in a container and places them under the sink. They are out of the way yet convenient when it is tub time.

Other ways that work nicely is to string a bath net made for the purpose of holding toys that are used in the tub. It is suctioned on the walls and since it is net the water drains into the tub.

One other solution would be to place the toys in a container and leaving it in the tub. This would not be as convenient for the next person using the tub, but you do what you have to do when space is tight and limited.

What are your solutions to storing tub toys in a convenient place?