the simple me » organize

Purse-sized emergency kit

alana — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:00:21 +0000

A few months ago, our friend Madison shared her secret for keeping an organized purse. We found it so useful, that we asked her to come back and share with us some more helpful tips.

I pride myself in following the boyscouts’ motto “always be prepared” and as a result, I keep my purse fully stocked in case of emergencies. Here’s a list of items I have with me at all times:

Madison’s purse-sized emergency kit Spring the list!
- Wallet
- Keys
- Bottled water
- Snacks
- Lip gloss
- Band aids
- Tide-to-Go Pen
- Contact solution and case
- Glasses
- Mini umbrella
- Spare phone charger
- Reusable grocery bag
- Hand sanitizer/wipes
- Pen

Does keeping emergency supplies in my purse simplify my life? Yup. Plus, my friends all look to me and my purse when they’re in a pinch!

Organize your kitchen sink supplies

alana — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:27:22 +0000

Quick Tip: organize your sink supplies from Martha Stewart

“Don’t let kitchen rags and dishwashing gloves clutter the sink area. Instead, hang them from hooks screwed to the inside of a cabinet door.”

While I do have some concerns about the moisture build-up under the sink, it sure seems worth a try…

Just collect your supplies & get started. Spring the shopping list!

Image Source: Martha Stewart

Keep your purse organized

alana — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:44:27 +0000

This post comes from our super-organized and very resourceful friend Madison.

Do you ever find yourself digging through your purse searching for various items you stashed earlier? I keep my purse stocked in case of emergency, so I have a lot to dig through! Here’s the solution: Keep your purse items organized in small accessory bags. By grouping things in smaller bags, I can carry everything I need (and a little extra) in an organized and useful fashion.

Here are my favorite small bags & the things I like to keep in them:

Paisley Makeup Bag Spring this product!
- makeup
- medicine
- hand sanitizer

Polka Dot Pencil Case Spring this product!
- Tide-To-Go pen
- contact case
- glasses
- band aids

It may seem easier to just dump things into your purse when you’re on the go, but trust me, storing your items in smaller bags makes it simpler to find things in a pinch. Also, grouping items that you use together into the same bag helps.

Has using small bags to organize my purse simplified my life? Most Definitely! Everything is neat, organized and accessible.

Declutter your room

celena — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:38:59 +0000

Check out Michael Wolf’s photographs of 10×10 rooms in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is my favorite city, it’s a place where East meets West. But, many people forget that a few blocks away from those skyscrapers are the old apartments that once covered the city.

It is pretty amazing that so much stuff can be fit into rooms so small. My favorite rooms are the ones clear of clutter – even though the rooms are so small, they can still feel spacious if there is open space. Wolf’s photos have inspired me to declutter my own room.

I am following the Zen Habits method of decluttering:
- Find an open space
- One drawer/shelf at a time, empty the contents onto the space
- Make 2 piles: keep or throw
- Organize the items you want to keep

Will decluttering my room simplify my life? I’ll let you know.