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Papers, papers, and more papers!

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I started with typing in business card information into a Google spreadsheet. Then I bartered with someone to scan magazines for me. Then I was hanging out on Twitter and ran across a reference to overhead document scanners and decided to check them out. Here's what I found: For about $200 you can get a scanner that : folds up when not in use auto-detects flipping a page, making the scan about as fast as you can turn the pages has a foot pedal has a microphone to record notes you might make to yourself (for example if you're scanning something you don't want to write on) interprets 180+ languages converts to pdf, searchable pdf, Word, Excel spreadsheet, and tiff Crazy, right? This is definitely going on my birthday list! Goodbye magazines, recipe cards, school notes, newspaper clippings, and all kinds of other papers! Update: I bought it and it's as good as the reviews and as good as you can imagine it would be. This scanner has enabled me to clean out filing cabi
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More Kitchen

So I am still working on my kitchen, mostly, although other things are happening in the process. (I'm also working on the patio as weather permits, and the office when I can't get to anything else.) I already mentioned that I was a huge fan of vertical storage. Then I found this which freed up an enormous amount of room.   In 9 inches of space, I was able to fit two large Corning Ware pans, two matching Corning Ware lids, and two other pots with lids. I like it because it is sturdy and adjustable. I had to play around with it to get it to hold the most stuff, but this is a purchase I'm really happy with.
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Art, Beauty, Craft, and Office Supplies - 1

Pens, pencils, markers, brushes: they go everywhere. They roll around and create a mess. Unless you have one of these! It's great for makeup brushes, eyeliner pencils, eyebrow pencils, skinny lipsticks, and all that kind of stuff, too! My mother now comes to me for organizing tips, and she had a pack of coloring pencils she couldn't use until I gave her this. She's really happy with it (and if you've read my other blogs, you know my mother can be a bit of a perfectionist). 96 spaces for holding all your stuff.
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Everyday

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I don't know anyone who has full-time to devote to organizing. However, we can all do a little every day, and let it become a habit. Doing just a few things a day can lead to big changes over time, and you have to be patient. Organizing is as personal as you are, and what works for you might not work for someone else. You have to approach it as an experiment. Not everything you try will work the first time, and that's okay. Looking on it as a process, rather than a project, will help you accept that as you organize, your needs evolve. There's no right way and no one style of organization. I'm a kinaesthetic person, so I go by where things are in space. As you might imagine, organizing and putting things in different spaces was an enormous upset and I would literally have to take pictures as I went along to help me find things until they reached their permanent home (and I still can't find things from time to time without a search until I assimilate the new order
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Upright Storage

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I watched my mother struggle for years with pot lids and Corning Ware (pulling a whole stack out at once to get the one item she needed). I did the same thing because I didn't know any better. Then I discovered the joy of storing things on edge, and now I'm a huge fan. What do I mean by storing things on edge? This! And here's how I did it, with this handy item . It expands to fit the space available, and the dividers are adjustable and very sturdy. In addition, the dividers are coated with plastic, so nothing gets scratched up. It's not just for pots and pans, as you might imagine. I have several that store all kinds of items. It's a great way to maximize space because you can use every vertical inch of space you have.
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Cutlery Storage

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I had the old Rubbermaid cutlery organizers and I have been using them all my adult life. Then I moved to a smaller apartment and lacked sufficient drawer space. Now when I say old, I mean old—in fact, one of the cutlery organizers was given to me by my mother. I had been considering the style that stores cutlery like a picnic basket, but I decided that I didn't have enough counter or cabinet space. And I was worried about the cutlery getting dirty while I was cooking if it was left out.
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Welcome!

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We've all seen the Instagram-worthy photos, and maybe looked at a few IKEA catalogues, and wondered if we could ever have a space like that. I decided to take on the challenge, not realizing how big a project it would be. Several years ago, I embarked on a mission to organize my apartment. I had moved from a larger to a smaller space, and a lot of things wouldn't fit. However, in my quest to organize, I discovered many useful ways of thinking about organization—so much so that I've written a book! The purpose of this blog is many-fold: first, to promote discussion; second, to find specific solutions; and third, to help you think differently about organizing. (And, of course, you are free to buy my organizing book when it is published.) I have read many books on organizing and experimented with many different ways of arranging things. While I can't guarantee that I can solve all your organizing woes, I hope I can help you think about the way you use your space. I ca
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