Naming Toys

Your kids insist on taking toys to school, and not always do they come home.

One way to identify your kids toys, especially metal or plastic, grab a bottle of brightly colored nail polish.

Your can write their initials or name on the bottom of the toy and it will not easily wear off.

Recycling Bottles

As you empty squeezable bottles, like ketchup or what not, wash out the bottles and remove all labeling.

Now when you are working in the shop you can fill with paint thinner, glue or other liquids that you may need in small amounts.

Mark the bottle well, and now you have any easy disposable dispenser for small amounts.

Make sure that you verify that the liquid that you are going to store in the bottle is safe for storing in plastic.

Keeping Tabs on Tags

OK, so if you are like me, you belong to a million price savings plans for local grocery stores, chain stores, office supply stores. You name it, I have one!

Most of the stores supply you with a large card and a key chain card. The key chain card is great, but it bangs around with your keys and break off.

I have found a simple and easy way to keep track of all of my cards, while freeing up some much needed space in my wallet and key chain.

Instead, get one key chain just for your savings cards. Now you can drop the whole wad in your purse and when you need one just pull it out and they are easy to sort though with out the battle of the keys.

Remote Control Round Up

If you have too many remote controls that constantly wander around the living room and house. You have tried boxes and bags and they still look a mess. Grab a decorative bowl, preferably a sturdy one and set it where you would like the remote controls to be. Place them all in the bowl and now they have a new home!

Utensil Urn

If you want something beautiful to show off your kitchen tools, don't go shopping in the kitchen store. Instead shop around your house, yard sales, or your local gift stores. Find a sturdy vase or pot that matches your decor and put in your array. Now you have your tools at you finger tips and a great touch to complete a kitchen.

Mail Mess

Ok, we have all done this and I do at at least once a week. You run out and grab the mail, you bring it into the house or the car, and it sits there........ One day you look and you have a stack the size of Mount Fuji to sort through.

Make a habit to always pick up the mail on your way into the house. Your first stop should be by the recycling bin where you drop any advertisements or catalogues that you are not interested in.

Next stop is your desk or area where you pay bills to drop those buggers off.

Last but not least your reading basket for your magazines and catalogues that you do want to read.

In about 30 seconds you will have taken care of the mail, instead of hours of sorting later.

Address Label Ease

You always get those little address labels in the mail. You use them on everything, but you still have them coming out your ears!

Throw some extra ones in your purse. Now when you are out and about and want to sign up for a drawing, see a long lost friend, whatever, now you don’t have to write it down just pull out a label.

Exasperating Expiration Dates

Ok, so most of us have never really thought about expiration dates on household items. My eyes were really opened to this just a while ago. My grandmother is in an assisted living home and a conversation with the owner revealed that the home was once given an infraction for having a tub of expired vasaline. Of course my jaw dropped, but yes, even vasaline has an expiration date. You will find below a small compilation of beauty and food items with manufacturer recommended expiration dates:

Canned/Glass Bottled Soda, regular:
Unopened: 9 months from "best by" date.
Opened: Depends on a lot of factors, but at the most a day or two. You may notice a different taste, especially if not stored tightly sealed in a temperature controlled environment.

Platic Bottled/Diet Soda:
Unopened: 3 months from "best by" date.
Opened: A day or tow, but you may notice a different taste, especially if not stored tightly sealed in a temperature controlled environment.

Ground Coffee in Can:
Unopened: 2 years.
Opened: 1 month if tightly sealed and refrigerated.

Bottled Juices/Apple Juice:
Unopened: 8 months from production date.
Opened: 7 to 10 days if stored properly

Ketchup/Mustard:
Unopened: 1 year from production date.
Opened: 4 to 6 months.

Imitation Maple Syrup:
Unopened: 1 year
Opened: 1 year.

Soy Sauce:
Unopened: 2 years.
Opened: 3 months.

Peanut Butter:
Unopened: 2 years.
Opened: 6 months; if you are going to have longer than 3 months refrigerate.

Canned Tuna:
Unopened: 1 year from purchase date.
Opened: 3 to 4 days, If stored in a tightly sealing container in the refrigerator (not the can)

Mayonnaise:
Unopened: One Year from Purcased Date
Opened: 2 to 3 months from "purchased by" date.

Prepared Salad Dressing/In Bottle:
Unopened: 12 months after "best buy" date.
Opened: 9 months if refrigerated.

Olive Oil:
Unopened: 2 years from manufacture date if stored in a temperature controlled environment
Opened: 2 years from manufacture date if stored in a temperature controlled environment

Vinegar:
Unopened: 42 months
Opened: 42 months

Nail Polish:
Unopened: 1 year from manufacture date
Opened: 1 year from manufacture date if tightly resealed each time after use.

Nail Polish Remover:
Unopened: Pretty much lasts indefinitely
Opened: Lasts indefinitely if tightly sealed. Will tend to evaporate with time.

Perfume:
Unopened: 1 to 2 years if stored in a temperature controlled environment.
Opened: 1 to 2 years if stored in a temperature controlled environment.

Lipstick:
Unopened: 2 years.
Opened: 2 years.

Mascara:
Unopened: 2 years.
Opened: 3 to 4 months, unless you have an eye infection, then replace immediately.

Oil Based Foundation:
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 2 years.

Water Based Foundation:
Unopened: 3 year
Opened: 3 years

Windex, Window Cleaners:
Unopened: 2 years.
Opened: 2 years.

Metal Polish:
Unopened: 3 years.
Opened: 3 years.

Wood Polish/Pledge:
Unopened: 2 years.
Opened: 2 years.

Powdered Laundry Detergent:
Unopened: About 1 year if stored in a dry location.
Opened: At least 6 months if stored in a dry location.

Liquid Laundry Detergent:
Unopened: Up to 1 year.
Opened: 6 months.

Bleach:
Unopened: about 6 months
Opened: about 3 months.

Smart Storage I

You have seen the shoe bags when you are shopping and you think to yourself, why would I ever use one of those? Don’t think shoes, think stuff!

The shoe racks that have pockets, think: Spices in your pantry, Nylons on the back of your bedroom door, Make up supplies in the bathroom, Tools in the garage, Cleaning Supplies in the Washroom.

If you have had a hard time finding a home for it, it might fit!

Sock Storage I

Don’t throw out old socks. They may be a little thin, but there are still great uses for them.

Use them as protectors for goggles that you have around the house.

These would include goggles for swimming, skiing, working in the shop, or biking.

Now if they get bumped around a bit, they won’t get all scratched up.

Easy Filing

Do you ever find yourself looking for the instruction book or warranty for something that you bought who knows when??

I got tired of trying to keep mine straight that I set up this easy way to find what I need when I need it.

I keep one drawer of a file cabinet just for warranty information on purchases.

I have some hanging files that are set up with basic house area's. (Garage, Office, Kitchen, etc)

In the front of the drawer I place a large handful of blank manila folders.

Now whenever I buy something that has a significant warranty I grab a folder and place the original receipts and owner manuals in it and place the item name on the tab and file away.

If something happens and the item needs repair, I grab the folder and pull out all of the information that I need.

Pony Tail/Barrette Organization

If you have little girl like me, you probably have a billion barrettes and pony tail holders. We constantly have issues about keeping them picked up around the house. I found a quick and easy solution for this.

Get a box of sandwich sized resealable plastic bags.

I found the ones that have the larger zipper style top.

I sorted out all the barrettes and pony tail holders by type, color, kind.

I placed each grouping into the plastic bag and sealed it.

Now when we are getting ready for school all she has to do is reach in the drawer and grab a bag that has the kind that she wants.

Necklace Hang Up

Keeping jewelry straight is always troublesome, especially if you have a little girl. You can try this helpful tip if you are having troubles keeping necklaces organized.

If you are having problems keeping all your little girls necklaces from getting tangled find some peg racks, (like Coat Racks but smaller) from your local craft store.

Let your daughter paint it up to match her room and mount on a wall above/near a mirror.

Now when she is done wearing her favorite necklace she can hang it up on one of the pegs.

These are so easy and fun that you can even have fun using them for an adult!

Managing Hair Supplies

If your daughter has tons of brushes, hairclips, rubber bands, jewelry, etc. then you know how crazy it can get to keep it all together in one location and not all over the house. This is an easy tip that will help you keep it a bit more organized.

The next time that you go shopping, stop by the local sporting good store or department and pick up a tackle box with pop up trays.

It has lots of little cubbies for putting smaller items like barrettes and bands, as well as a brush or two in the bottom.

It is also portable so that she can take it to friends houses or on trips and have everything right at her fingertips.

Calendar Confusion

If you have more than one child you are probably going crazy with who does what when. You have tried organzing schedules, but nothing seems to work and you are forgetting appointments sometimes.

To alleviate some of the confusion get a large white calendar from your local office supply store. You can find either wall mount or desktop styles. You can buy a desktop style and hang it for better visibility. While you are there buy a brightly colored pen for each child or activity or just use some of the kids pens.

Now when you have an appointment, activity or notable event grab the color of the pen for the child/activity and write it in on your calendar.

Use a Red Pen to indicate dates when there is no school or a holiday that needs to be noticed.

Now at a glance you know who is going where.

Establish a Command Post

They say that raising a family can be like running a war. If that is so, then you need to establish a command post in a central area of the house. This will help alleviate a lot of stress when getting ready for day to day activities.

Your command post will be where everyone leaves their books, homework, permission slips, keys, and other items that are needed on a daily basis.

If everyone uses backpacks set up sturdy coat hooks on the wall and hang the backpacksso that they are ready for retreival each morning.

Also set up an inbox for any papers that need parent consent/authorization.

Once you have signed the required consents/authorizations place into the front pocket of the backpack for the child that needs it.

This should help alleviate a lot of chaos in the mornings when you are trying to get out the door.

Using Technology

Do you use your computer all the time at home or work?

Do you use outlook or another scheduling program?

You may be able to use all of these handy features at home to keep track of schedules with the kids too!

Check with your Cell phone carrier and see if you can upload your schedules into your phone and set up reminders.

If you can, set up all your schedules in your program and upload to your phone with reminders set for at least 1/2 hour before the activity.

Now your phone can remind you of appointments or games that might have gotten missed.

Cleaning up the Clutter

If you have a refrigerator like ours, it is just filled with magnets holding up pictures of friends and family as well as art work.

What can you do to get rid of all of the clutter?

Next time you are in the store, pick up a full page magnet or better yet use any magnets that you received with advertising on them.

Now just attach any of the photographs with some craft glue to the magnet and cut out.

You can now hang up your art work with pictures of your friends and family!