I bought a pretty little notebook a few weeks ago to keep my grocery lists on. It made me think about how I am far more likely to use something if aesthetically it is appealing to me. I think when it comes to products that keep us organized in life, it’s a lot like our relationship with clothing. If it feels and looks good, we will wear it. It’s the same for our life and our homes. If it looks pretty, and it makes me feel good, we will enjoy and utilize it.

Derek Waskerd contacted me a few weeks ago, and I was immediately smitten by his handmade products. Derek is an original Texan who loves the craft of leather. Here’s what Derek says about working as a craftsman:

“I appreciate nice, thick leather.  I love leather in it’s natural state–imperfections and all.  I love the smell of leather.  I love the feel of it, and more than anything, I love how quality leather patines and forms from handling and use.  When I began making wallets I wanted to incorporate some my grandfather and his love for cattle in my work. I chose to name the colors of my leather products after Hereford, Limousin, Simmental, and Angus cows because of the time I spent around them with my grandfather.”

Derek has a beautiful website Waskerd. Here he sells handmade items like wallets, notebooks, key rings and business cards holders. Derek sent me a few to sample and I was immediately in love with not only the quality, but the smell and feel of his products as well.

This one is titled the “Little Idea Machine”. It is a brilliant product intended to hold business cards and notes. One side has a pocket perfect for a standard size business card, and the middle holds a pocket that perfectly fits 3×5 index cards.

The other side holds index cards as well leaving them exposed for note taking. I love how the corners hold the cards in place!

As you can see from the side this piece boasts beautiful stitching and quality leather. The Little Idea Machine retails for $75 here. Custom monograms are also available.

One of my favorite things about Derek’s products are the packaging. Each item he sells comes delicately wrapped, and with a beautiful leather business card attached. So clever!

Here’s another product Derek sent me. This is the 3-pocket wallet named Prince Drew. It retails for $60 and has the option of monograming as well.

Derek even put my own website name on it as well! I have already filled the Prince Drew up with business cards, and it’s the perfect wallet for carrying cash and bank cards when I go out and don’t want to carry around a purse.

Thank you Derek for sharing some of your talents with me! To learn more about Derek and read his charming story as to how he started his craft, go here. To purchase and view many other Waskerd products, go here.

If you haven’t heard of Eve Ashcraft, let me just tell you she is the paint goddess. When Martha Stewart wanted to develop her first paint collection, she turned to Eve for help. Eve helped Martha to pinpoint colors from none other than chicken eggs, which resulted in an enormously successful paint line. Eve graduated with a degree in Fine Arts, and currently runs a business Eve Ashcraft Studio offering color consultation for both homes and businesses.

The Right Color is not your typical paint roller kind of book. This book is all about that important step you take before you pick up the brush: picking a color. This book is literally packed with fabulous tips on how color make make a room look larger, how to liven up a space, choosing an entire palette instead of just one color, and many more invaluable tips.

If you are looking to paint your home, and finding you suffer from paint paralysis, this book is full of everything you need to make a choice with confidence.  Not only does eve show a vast variety of color options throughout the book, Eve also teaches you all about the color wheel, lighting, and using color to define your space.

The first part of the book The Right Color is dedicated to the history of color, and teaching readers all about where to begin and find inspiration. The middle of the book teachers readers the importance of color by room. I loved learning about what hues and palettes are ideal for a kitchen, and what to avoid in a bedroom.  The end of the book covers the physical painting process, and teaches all about the necessary tools. There’s even a section on hiring the right painter for the job if it’s a job just too big to tackle yourself.

I love that The Right Color is also filled with beautiful photographs and examples of other homes. My favorite sections of the book is called “Case Studies”, where Eve shows beautifully photographed  historic, country, and modern homes. Not only does Eve display and discuss the paint colors chosen in this home, but she also teaches the  inspiration that proceeded them.

My husband and family always joke that when I paint a wall, chances are in a year I will paint it again. I love painting, and am always changing colors in attempt to find my style. I really felt like the book inspired me to stop just grabbing swatches that look pretty, but to observe my entire environment to find inspiration for the colors I choose. In fact, I have been wanting to paint my master bedroom but have felt stuck with choosing a palette. I now feel like I have the knowledge to find that perfect color and sheen for my room.

To learn more about The Right Color go here. To purchase the book from Artisan, you can visit their website here.

I am always in need of a greeting card. Whether it’s for a child’s birthday, or a get well card for a neighbor, I am always digging for something to personalize for a friend. To help remind me to remember to write a personal note, especially when a thank you is on order, I wanted to have a small box in my kitchen that had easily accessible blank note cards. One day while cruising the aisles at my local Habitat for Humanity ReStore, I came across this metal box traditionally used for electric work. For just fifty cents I picked up several, and they have become one of my favorite storage containers. I have used them to hold tape, post it notes, note cards, and paper scraps for grocery lists. The options are endless, and the purchase helped upcycle an item that might have eventually ended up in the trash.

Hello Readers!
My name is Katie Brown and I write about a little bit of everything on my blog, Smile Like You Mean It. I’m so happy to share my craft space with you today!

Over the last year or two I’ve become somewhat of a craft-supply hoarder! You can bet I was in that nice long line when Roberts Crafts Store closed earlier this month. I can’t pass up cute fabric from the remnants bin, and I have a hard time not buying cute ribbon when it’s 50% off at Hobby Lobby! This little habit of mine has forced me to organize my stash and evolve the space!

Since I dabble in so many different things—sewing, painting, jewelry, paper crafting, crocheting, (the list goes on and on!)–I have to keep it all organized! It’s hard to sit down and get creative when everything is cluttered and messy! This space needed a huge overhaul when I started crafting. Here’s what the space looked like before:

EEK!
What. a. Mess.
It makes me stressed out just looking at it!!

Here’s what it looks like today:

Baskets on the left hold computer software and the baskets on the right hold sewing supplies and things like glue guns and my Cricut accessories.

In the drawers of the desk are pads of stationary, scrap pieces of paper to write little notes, scissors and markers, cables and headphones, as well as extra toner for the printer. The bottom two drawers hold fabric scraps and project leftovers.

These clipboards, hanging near the computer, are perfect for clipping up to-do lists or project ideas ripped out of magazines.

Everything stored on the shelves or in the desk are things that need to be within arms reach at any given moment because I use them the most.

Everything else goes in my craft closet which is just a mere 15 feet away and easily accessible.

Just like I told you before—lots and lots of ribbon!

and way too much scrapbook paper for someone who does digital scrapbooking!

Labeled bins help keep all the different smaller items separated but easy to find.

My favorite thing about this closet is how perfectly the fabric shelves fit in the awkward space between the wall and the door! It makes me happy to open the door and see a rainbow of fabric stacked up! I have bigger bins at the bottom of this closet for more bulky fabric.

There’s also a bin for unfinished projects, so whenever I am bored I can go grab something and actually finish it.

Going back to the desk area, I have this extra set of bin drawers that are on my craft side of the desk. It’s only there because it was the best place for it. These items would normally go in the craft closet, but that’s getting a bit full lately!

The desk and shelving system were designed to not only make it easy to get creative and dive into projects, but also for our family to spend time together even when we are doing separate things. My hubby can read his favorite geek sites on the computer while I am working on the current project and our 3 year old just plays behind us! Here’s the other side of the room where he plays:

This is definitely an area of the house we spend a lot of time in and I look forward to working in this space every day! I’m so glad I was able to share it with you! I hope it inspires you to get organized and get creative!

Wow! Beautiful room Katie! Thanks so much for sharing! To learn more about Katie and see many more of her DIY projects, you can visit her at  Smile Like You Mean It. To submit your own organized space, please e-mail Natalie at natalie(at)organizedmom.net.

I visited my sister last fall at her home in Virginia. She lives in a beautiful colonial home where the majority of the flooring is white tile. White! Can you imagine? I assumed she had spent many hours cleaning it in preparation of my arrival, (Hello sister! I am the last person who cares!), turned out to be just a quick ten minute mop job.

“I have got to see this mop!” I exclaimed.

Turns out, my sister is a very big fan of the Shark Steam Mop.

As it also turns out, I am envious of my sister, and must have anything that she has.

(I may have just purchased the same car as her, for the  second time.)

After returning home, I knew I had to try the Shark Steam Mop in my house. I saw how awesome it worked on tile, but in my home we have three kinds of flooring. Concrete, linoleum, and wood. I tried out the mop first on my concrete floors and hardwood, and the results were shocking! I seriously couldn’t believe how well it steam cleans. Since most homes have linoleum, let me show you how the mop worked in my bathroom.

This is the Shark Professional Steam Mop. It retails for around $159.

After some simple assembling, all you need to do is fill the reservoir with water.

(On a side note, since I shed hair like crazy, I did pre-sweep the floor.)

There are three settings.  Dust, mop, and scrub.

I just mopped my floors two weeks ago, but decided to give scrub a try since my bathroom gets a lot of traffic.

Within just a minute or two the mop begins to steam. The mop handle is the perfect height and felt very comfortable pushing it around.

I love that the cleaning pads are attached to a swivel head, making turning tight corners and spaces a breeze. Hey – check out that cool steam heating up my mirror!

The steam pocket pads are also two-sided. You can easily flip them over to clean on both sides of the micro-fiber cloth.

Look how I flipped mine to clean all the gunk of my wall!

(Please tell me you have hairspray gunk all over your bathroom wall too!)

I really was amazed at how clean my floors were after using this mop. In fact, I didn’t realize how much hairspray and product build up I had on my floors that my regular mop was missing. In fact, when my daughter took this picture below of me she said, “Mom you are kind of angry at how dirty the floor is?”

She was right! I am a bit of a dirt and germaphobe and I could not believe we were living on floors that were so grimy. I really thought my regular sponge mop was doing the job.

Ready to see how much dirt came off?

No, wait. You are just going to have to imagine.

Oh, man.

I have to do this, don’t I.

All right, I will show you. But don’t you dare pin this on Pinterest!

Here you go:

Ahhhh!

That is mostly gunky buildup from my linoleum. I had no idea it was even there! Now that it’s gone, my floors look and feel brand new.

Who knew steam could clean so well! The great thing about steam cleaning is it makes surfaces sanitary too.

The Shark Profesional Steam Mop Comes with two Quick Release cleaning heads – a rectangle for general cleaning and a triangle for tight nooks and crannies.  There is also a carpet glider to freshen and groom floor coverings. Cool!

Thanks Shark for sending me the Professional Steam Mop to try out on my flooring. And just so you know, my sponge mop is now being used in my garage as a coat rack. Classy! To learn more about the Shark Steam Mop and other cool steam products made by Shark, go here.

I recently had the opportunity to read two awesome new books published by Artisan Books. What’s A Disorganized Person To Do? and What’s a Homeowner To DO?

Both books are intended to help families keep organized, and learn how to be self-reliant in their homes. After reading both, I am really excited to share with you some of the fabulous ideas and suggestions in these books!

The first book, What’s A Disorganized Person To Do?, was written by professional organizer Stacey Platt. Stacey runs DwellWell, a New York-based organizing and coaching firm with a clientele that includes movie stars, chefs, teachers, doctors, lawyers, and investment bankers. She is also a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers.

What’s A Disorganized Person To Do? is a very easy-to-read and idea packed book. Think of it as a guide for anyone who wants to be more organized. Throughout the book Stacey is excellent at reminding us everyone has overflowing closets and desk drawers. In this book Stacey comes to the rescue with fabulous ideas on putting and keeping things in order.

There are so many solutions to everyday frustrations, like organizing common items, cleaning and organizing appliances, stress free packing for traveling, and my favorite: organizing spaces we use again and again like our bathroom!

My absolute favorite part of the  book is the  illustrations and stylish photography.  The lessons and descriptions are also easy to understand and put into action.

Inside the book there are hundreds of awesome solutions for overcoming clutter. There are some time saving quick solutions, and simple one hour projects to do as well. I love that stacy doesn’t just tackle tangible clutter. She helps with organizing e-mail and online passwords as well!

Overall I loved reading What’s a Disorganized Person To Do, and can’t wait to tackle a few more one-hour projects around my house!

The other great book by Artisan titled What’s a Homeowner To DO? was written by Stephen Fanuka and Edward Lewine. Stephen is a second-generation contractor who just happens to be one of the elite builders in New York City. He is the star of the DIY Network series Million Dollar Contractor, and has frequented other popular shows such The Nate Berkus Show, and visited with Martha Stewart herself of Sirius Radio. Edward Lewine writes the “Domains” and “Ask the Contractor” columns for The New York Times Magazine, and is a popular published author.

In What’s a Homeowner to Do?, Stephen and Edward explain the basics of home repair and maintenance. After reading the book I felt like I had a much better understanding on how to not only repair things around my home, but communicate better with professionals as well. I love that the book teaches how to assemble and organinze a tool kit, and how to understand the  pros and cons of choosing different types of windows and countertops in my home. This book covers everything from faucets to driveways. I even feel like I finally understand how electric outlets work!

I love that What’s a Homeowner to Do? contains  hundreds of clear, helpful illustrations.  The drawings are simple, and very easy to follow. I also love that the book covers topics like how to how to repair a loose stair, installing a ceiling fan, buying paint, and keeping children safe around your home.

My favorite part of the book was that I felt like I was getting expert advice on repairs. I also loved how I better understood which repairs I could do on my own and when it was time to hire a professional.  Overall, after reading through the book, I feel like I finally know how my home works and functions.  I will be far less intimidated when something in my home goes wrong.

Thanks Artisan for letting me try out these helpful and informative new books! To learn more about these books or read other books published by Artisan, please go here.

(This was originally posted at Tech4Moms. I thought it was such a cool idea, I wanted to share it with you here at The Organized Mom!)

Several weeks before going to CES with Sarah of Tech4Moms, we were bombarded by e-mails from companies showcasing products that would be unveiled at the show. One particular e-mail I received caught me off guard. It was from none other than the home improvement giant, Lowe’s.

Lowe’s at the Consumer Electronic Show? What the what?

As a DIY junkie myself, I just had to check this out.

Lowe’s was at the show promoting something new called MyLowe’s. MyLowe’s in an integrated online experience that helps customers manage their biggest asset – their homes. Here’s how it works: In-store or online you register for a MyLowe’s card. Your card is then scanned every time you make a purchase. You can even enter your ID number online to track purchases as well. All purchases are tracked and stored in your customer profile.

Oh, my awesomsauce.

Do you know what this means???

You can now keep track and organize every home improvement purchase you make.

You can easily look up which appliance you bought and see if it’s still under warranty.

You can create a home profile online. Within your home profile you can list floor dimensions, window sizes, and more!

You can make notes for specific products you purchased.

You can create shopping lists.

You can set and access reminders for things you need to buy regularly. Hello air filters!

You can make a future project list too!

Ready for the best part???

No more taking messy paint cans in-store with you! Not only does it track what brand and finish of paint you bought, it knows what color as well! Whether it was one of Lowe’s custom colors, or a color you had matched from a different brand, all the information is stored right there on your card.

Now, I must tell you, there is one very bad things about this whole idea.

Your husband can now track what purchases you are making every time you have a inkling to repaint your bathroom or buy another pair of gardening gloves.

Don’t worry. There’s an easy solution!

I had my husband get his own account and card.

To learn more about MyLowe’s or to sign up, go here. A very special thank you to the MyLowe’s crew who helped me sign up at CES. I am very sorry I was giddy with an embarrassing amount of joy over this concept. I am not however embarrassed that I have bought six cans of different colored paint over the last six years for the same wall in my living room.

*I was not compensated for writing this post. I am just a DIY junkie who loves home improvement stores, and love this idea of keeping my purchases and home improvement projects organized.

It’s time for the fourth week in our Creative Storage Solutions series! This week we are talking about creative paper storage.

I swear half of my office storage space is for some sort of paper related item. I am always on the look out for a creative way to store paper that is easily accessible for myself, and my kids. This vintage storage box was originally intended to house 35mm slides.

Not really practical know since my kids have no idea what film even is.

So sad, right? Of course my dad said the same thing about me and 8 Track tapes, and I rolled my eyes then too.

After staring at the box for several weeks, I finally pulled the front door off, and decided it was the perfect box to sit on my desk and house paper. Now my kids have easy access to paper for writing and drawing, and my desk drawer is very much appreciative for receiving far less abuse.