I love helping you get organized, stay organized, and make your organized spaces beautiful. I share organized spaces, a few techie how-to's, time management tips, and more. I especially love beautiful labels and planners.
Started my journey a year ago. We will be retiring in a few years and living in our home with two additional generations. Thank you for this and some of the other videos, because right now it is a solo journey and I have physical limitations. But I do see progress and some stuff is getting easier. The hard part is getting stuff done, seeing progress and then having to leave for 4 weeks and then coming back and seeing the progress undone. Any suggestions?
So glad you are so much better. Always listen to your body. I had a dental implant put in, and I remember asking the dentist prior to having the implant, "what if my body rejects it?" and he told me it was extremely rare. However within 2 weeks of the final surgery, my right knee became swollen, and I had difficulty climbing stairs, very painful. NP said I had Arthritis, and I told her I didn't. She ordered blood work and exercises. Then the left knee got swollen. I did some scholarly research and found out that some people are allergic to their dental implants. I went back to the NP, all the blood work was normal, no arthritis, and I asked her if she had heard about implant allergies. She had not. I asked for a referral for allergy testing to rule out a metal allergy, and 6 mos. later, when the appt came, it was determined that I in fact did have a metal allergy, and three years later, had to have the implant removed due to an infection in my jaw that was threatening to perforate my sinus. All this time, I did not have any pain at the implant. Now, I no longer have the pain, or swelling in my knees. Again, I knew that I didn't have Arthritis, and the only thing different thing that happened in my life was having the implant put in!
Joseph Joseph also makes a silverwear holder that comes without the side areas. It is very narrow, yet holds all silverwear. They also make measuring cups and spoons that snap together. They are a wonderful company! You did a great job putting your kitchen together!
Absolutely! I think so many people get stressed out about organization that they don’t start to do it because they feel like it all has to be “ nice and neat and on display”
Since no one has asked a question yet, I’m just going to answer one as if this question was posted: How do you keep everything organized? My personal advice is this: put it away right away! And of course …” a place for everything and everything in its place” Now, if you can’t put it away right away, what should you do? Have one small container (basket, bag etc…) to place the item in temporarily. Then when you can snatch a free moment, empty the container!
Since the Container Store is now over 2 hours away I went looking for a similar product. Someone mentioned Walmart's dup, how about the Brightroom collection from Target? Maybe you could compare them to see how they hold up. thanks for all your videos Laura!! I've put a lot of your ideas to good use.
I use these all the time. I have them in my pantry for canned goods. They are in my craft room and 12x12 paper or slabs fit in there perfectly. My husband uses them in the garage for his supplies and tools. So good. Only at Container Store!!
Wow - I'm so sorry to hear about the intense pain and suffering that you've experienced. Thank you for sharing with us. You will be in my prayers for continued healing and renewed health.
Hi! The embroidery thread organizers are something I purchased about 12 years ago. I’m pretty sure they were a Martha Stewart product, but I don’t think they are available anymore.
It definitely helps to downsize, but every time I do then the item I’ve just gotten rid of I need within the week 😅 Is that some sort of Murphy’s Law?😂
I use AnyList, it lets you save recipes from any site, and choose categories, and it has a Meal Planning feature. I use it for all my lists, grocery shopping, things to do, etc.
What tupe are ypu if you function better in a relatively micro organised d Space, b7 It you HATE the time it takes yo actually set everything up that wz Ay?😢
Stumbled upon your channel because I also love organizing and cable mangement was way out of my depth. I used to be a massive health guy since I’ve seen a lot of cases like these where even doctors have difficulty figuring out what issue you might have. Biggest thing I dealt with was bloating and gut issues, so many will immediately diagnose with IBS and I’ve seen a lot of these go wrong and I love how you said that doctors won’t even know what to fully do. I heard for one guy’s case they gave him an antibiotic that caused more harm than good. The guy looked up the antibiotic he was prescribed on pubmed (I recommend everyone use that) turns out this antibiotic was linked to many suicides, chronic fatigue and other issues, worse part is that it didn’t even help with his condition. After enough digging he went through a SIBO organic acid test and from that found out his issue and was able to easily get it treated. Bottom line for any issues like this, is to try and always identify the issue, since trying to guess what it may be and treat it may sometimes make it worse. Biggest thing is to rate your pain from 1 to 10 and if it keeps getting worse faster than what you could figure it out that’s when you’re going to want to go the emergency room if they can’t find out and might be willing to let you out but you feel like the problem isn’t going to get better ask to get transported to another hospital who might be able to figure out the problem. There was a guy who threw up and passed out, went to the hospital all the tests they did they couldn’t find anything and this happens another 3 times before his wife insists on keeping him in the hospital until they find what’s wrong with him, transported him to another hospital found out the guy had a defected heart and needed a heart transplant. This was one of the lucky guys as apparently his condition is something that is difficult to diagnose and it kills a lot of people due to the time it takes to correctly diagnose the issue. Anyways apologies for the long comment. TLDR: Rate your pain from 1 to 10 and trust your gut after constantly getting nothing from multiple doctors. I also do wish Laura the best of luck with her health going forward.
Great video and I was so happy with the way you shot it. Sometimes I get distracted when you shoot from a different angle and move the camera angle bud you're still looking at the old angle. Hope u understand what I'm speaking of.
The first rule to organizing a Kitchen should be to take stock of the layout, large appliances, outlets and storage options. The best way to do that would be to get some graph paper and take measurements. Every Kitchen is different, so every Kitchen is unique in how it can be used; knowing what CAN'T be changed will help in decision-making. You need to draft the floor plan as well as elevations to get a full grasp of what you have to work with. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The second rule of Kitchen organizing is to plot movement efficiency. This means working out how to minimize movement, how to best share the space, and how to stock things closest to where they will be used. If you live alone and don't socialize in the home, your pathways through the Kitchen will be easier to plan than if you have a large family and host events in the home. Sharing cooking or serving means needing more counter space plus access to where things are stored while not disturbing others engaged in simultaneous Kitchen activities. In general, it's best to think in terms of 'stations', identified by the activities performed in those areas. Prep area, cooking area, and clean-up area are the primary stations in any Kitchen, but there can be more depending on the resident. There may be a storage prep (putting away new purchases or meal leftovers), beverage area (hot drinks, cold drinks, smoothies), serving area (completed dishes ready for placing on the table), lunchbox prep area, baking area, etc. Depending on the size of the Kitchen and its layout, some stations may need to be combined and others moved outside the Kitchen. This is where additional surfaces and/or storage may be needed. In my studio apartment, I don't have space for a kitchen island, even though I desperately need more counter/prep space (I use a cutting board that covers a top drawer); I don't have enough cabinets and deep base cabinets aren't accessible for me (I store my heavier or least used small appliances on a 7ft tall qtr-round shelving unit in a corner; being easily accessible and visible encourages me to use the appliances). Your Cooking Station will be centered on the stove and need all your cooking supplies within one step of that spot: pots, pans, lids, racks, spoons, lifting/flipping utensils, oils, seasonings, gravy/sauce mixes, etc. With luck, the stove sits between the Fridge and the Sink. Your Prep Station will require the largest counter space and have access (without moving) to prep tools (cutting boards, knives, graters, pressers, measurers, rollers, mixing bowls, sifting/draining containers, chopping/blending/mixing appliances, parchment/foil, funnels, food storage, etc. If possible, Easy access to nonrefrigerated produce (garlic, shallots, onions, lemons, limes, potatoes, yams, etc) and basic staples (salt, pepper, sugar, honey, flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and baking powder) would be nice. Your Cleanup Station will be centered on the Sink and would share or accommodate some system for garbage collection while also handling cleaning supplies, cleaning activities, and dish drying and storage. One other thing every Kitchen has is the 'junk drawer', but I prefer to call mine the 'Utility Drawer'. Names have impact; call it a 'junk drawer' and it will be the place you put any item suffering a deferred decision (aka 'JUNK'). A 'Utility Drawer' is stocked with a purpose; there are no junk items stored there, only tools and necessities. It's not a temporary storage space; it's more like a utility belt or toolbox for the Kitchen. A ratcheting screwdriver with multiple tips, an adjustable wrench, vice grips, nippers, a measuring tape (minimum 12ft), electrical tape, blue painter's tape, permanent marker, small scissors, Command hangers and replacement stickers, various screws, and a size variety of binder clips. If you feel the need to keep twist ties, rubber bands, bread tags or the like, set up a small decorative basket to put them in, on the counter but out of the way, and every so often dump the excess in the trash. But don't let this fester and fill the Utility Drawer. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The third rule of Kitchen organizing is minimizing your possessions. This means being realistic about what you have the energy to use and maintain and whether you have the space to store it. How many of your utensils and tools are duplicates? Can you get by with fewer and just give it a quick clean between uses? Can similar items be used in place of duplicates? Do so many justify the space they take up? How much of your Kitchenware consists of more volume than you need? Do you have racks and pans 12inch or wider or 6qts or greater, but you cook for only two or less? How frequently do you cook for a crowd or an event? Is cooking in volume and freezing the overflow a necessity? How often do you encounter freezer burn? Maybe it's time to downsize to 10inch or 4qt kitchenware and appliances. How many of your utensils and tools are uni-taskers? Can another item do the same job? Is it easy to clean and keep in working condition? Does it earn its space in the Kitchen, or can you do without it? How often do you use each of your specialty utensils and tools? Is it worth finding a place for that pasta maker, that wok and its accessories, the cake decorating set, the vegetable chopper, etc. Do you really need those items at your current season of life; do you have time and when was the last time you made time? How difficult would it be to buy a replacement in the future, when you will need these items? Once you've minimized your kitchenware, it's time to carefully consider the volume and variety of your foodstuff. Go through your pantry, check the 'use-by' dates on your nonperishables, and rethink how often you make pastries, pastas, home canning, exotic cuisines, and the like. Maybe it's time to be realistic and instead of 'I do this" it's time for 'I once did this". The fewer things you have, the easier it is to find storage for it, the more likely it will be stored closer to where it will be used, and the more likely you will use it when you see it there. Also, you have to make room for new adventures and new experiences by acknowledging that some activities' time is over. Honor with gratitude what has passed and make space for the unexpected. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ These 3 rules will make organizing easier and life more enjoyable.
Thank you so much for this video. It was very helpful for me. I've been trying to get a handle on my paperchase for years. The sad part is when you live by yourself that means you have to do everything yourself. Make the food, clean the dishes, clean the bathrooms by the time you get through everything. Everything you have no time to do the decluttering that you want or the filing of payers. I continue to work on it however and the few friends that I have in here are very patient with me and totally understand what's going on. You are so awesome! Keep those videos coming❤
