Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Organizing tips from Tommie #1


Stella had mentioned on Scrolling saturday.... I should start an organizing tips entry.



So today when I was getting out my phone charger, it reminded me of that. Here is a prime example of one of the little things I do to make my life easier. We have a drawer full of different cords....phone cords, camera cords, chargers, etc. I know I can look in there and with one glance find mine. Because it is labeled "phone charger"....the other half of the sticky label wraps around the cord and says "charger". Which brings me to any organizers best friend:


My label maker.....I know I have blogged about my organizers best friend before. For as long as I have remembered, I have had a label maker. Before I realized there was a machine that did this, I used to print out text on a typewriter and put Scotch tape over it to 'laminate' it. I have had mucho expensive ones, but this one has been my favorite. It comes in refill tapes of plastic, paper, clear, ones that can be used indoor, ones that can be used outdoors. Best of all, both Target and Walmart carry the refills. I usually paper tape on things that are files and such and plastic on more permanent things. The clear tape is good for things that you are color coordinating. You can print it on clear and paste the tape to a colored piece of paper.

I have always been organized. At times, some would even go so far as to say way over the top. I think I control my environment to the X degree because I don't always know what our little world is going to bring me. Okay enough mumbo jumbo hocus pocus.
If you want me to bring my organizing insight to a certain area, let me know. I don't have it all organized (okay, maybe I do) but I have great ideas1

18 comments:

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

Fantastic IDEA (posting organizational tips). I love the labeling of cords (especially with 6 PC's - oy ve).

How do you organize your pantry? Inquiring minds want to know and SEE.

Anonymous said...

I LOVE MY LABEL MAKER. I use it to label the school supplies...everything must be labeled including the caps on the markers.

I'm with Mamageek...I want to SEE how you organize your pantry!

tulipmom said...

Yes! Show us your pantry! Mine is in desperate need of an overhaul.

tulipmom said...

Preferably before my mother comes to visit this weekend ... :)

Unknown said...

I have the same label maker and it's one of the best things EVER!

Cynthia said...

Now, I want a label maker!

Wendy said...

I need one of those so bad! I was just looking at several adapters trying to remember which goes with what. I keep promising myself to get some masking tape and start labeling them. This thing would make it so much more fun!

Anonymous said...

wesome idea! ;)

How about the kiddos? What tips do you have to organize their stuff?

I can't wait to hear pantry tips too! Thanks so much, I really appreciate the tips! ;)

Meg said...

I want to know more! I love seeing organizational ideas!

Mary Alice said...

Humm...if you are in base housing you probably don't have a REAL pantry :-) Love the cord labeling...much better than my current method of ripping all the cords out of the drawer and staring at the ends and the receptacle end of whatever electronic device I am attempting to match it with.

Monogram Queen said...

I can live a life of organization vicariously through you, Tommie cos' you would have a pure tee FIT if you saw my house. Seriously!

Libby said...

I would need a label that said "label maker" ;)

tommie said...

We have lived in post housing in Alaska and Kansas. The house in Alaska was brand new and did have a tall pantry like the one I have now. The house in Kansas was built in the early 1900s, so it actually had a walk-in little room off the dining room that was a pantry.

a2zhanna said...

You are the so organized your freezer has labels. I love you anyway. I miss you.

Brooke (CrazyRN) said...

I love my label maker! I couldn't live without it!

I really need to tackle our small closet that holds all the kids' papers/art projects/school stuff/journals/memory boxes/etc....but it's going to be a really big job.

People at work always know when I've been there, last week I overhauled the filing cabinets and 2 drawers in the labor rooms. It's so much nicer now though!!

Remember the movie "Sleeping with the Enemy"? That's how our pantry is, 2 high, alphabetized according to variety (fruit, veg, soups, etc) and labels facing out. Makes it very easy to see what we have on hand at all times!

Anonymous said...

Next time I am in the states I am going to look for one of those label makers, that would come in handy!

k e r r y said...

Label makers come in handy - don't they?! Love your pull out drawers in your pantry - nice!

Janet said...

I have one of those label makers...but I'm not sure where I put it!