My find this week works in the office, is likely stored there, but has uses all around the house! It is a personal laminator and I had wanted one for ages and finally got one before Christmas. Let me tell you - I LOVE IT!!! It is one of those things that once you have it, it is surprising how many times you think to use it.

I used it to laminate my care sheet for the laundry room, a small sign at the front door asking people to knock first, kids activity schedules, favourite, often used recipes (stick on the back of your spice cupboard door for easy access), crafts… There are so many uses that it will be one thing once you own, you will wonder how you got along without it for so long. The sheets can be fairly pricey though, so try not to go TOO crazy - I had to hold myself back just a little! Enjoy!

This is a great laminator by Fellowes>

Under the bed is a perfect and often used storage space for extra things in your bedroom. The trick is to use the space wisely by storing the right things in proper containers. The best stuff to store under your bed are things that have to DO with the bedroom; think seasonal clothes, duvet covers and blankets. You don’t want anything under there that you need to access on a regular basis nor do you want things that don’t belong to the bedroom - those stray items should likely find a home somewhere else. As for the containers, you need to find something that rolls, can be cleaned and has a lid!! You know how dust bunnies congregate under the bed - it would suck to have them party on your clean sweaters! I have been looking for a great bin for under our bed and I have found a couple that I think will appeal to you.

The first is a CUTE basket called the “DEGERNES” (pictured above) with a canvas tie on lid - perfect for those who don’t have a bedskirt and want something that will look good under the bed. You can still clean it by giving it a quick vacuum or wiping down the sides and the cover can just be thrown in the wash. It could be a bit tiresome untying it - so for this I recommend storing stuff that you would need to access a couple times a year. Find it here>

The next two are pure function. They are both plastic, and have plastic lids that can be easily put on and wiped off. I would recommend this only if you have a bedskirt hiding it - plastic containers/storage bins/ drawers are great, but look cheap sticking out in a bedroom! They are completely functional and great, but please hide them! Here are a couple that I found on line and liked - note the Ikea one is almost 1 1/2″ taller than The Container Store one - so measure your bed before you buy!

Ikea underbed storage>
The Container Store under bed storage>

I love to shop on Etsy.com for handmade creations, there are always spectacular finds to discover. It continually amazes me how clever the products and creators are that sell on this site! I wanted to showcase some great organizational items to make your home office sparkle with personality and function. Here are some of the many cool things that can be found:

First out of the gate is the “Office in a Can” (pictured above) from seller Twooni on Etsy. This cute addition to your desktop comes with:
1 super cute pencil cup, 2 BIG paper clips, 3 magnets, 4 clothespin whiteboard magnets. For only $12.00 you can take this baby home>

These rainbow colored magnets caught my eye, with the days of the week on each one you can really keep organization looking cute. Use them on your fridge, filing cabinet, or magnetic board.

Available from Pink Penguin Star on Etsy and you’ll get 7 day of the week magnets for $8.00!

How’s this for a shabby chic idea?
Etsy seller Vintage Inspiration has created this magnetic/dry erase board enclosed in a beautiful vintage frame. Hang this one proudly in your office or kitchen for easy viewing and use. I can just picture the fun you’ll have using this in your shabby chic decor.
Own it for $170 on Etsy >

And I couldn’t resist sharing this artistic and wonderful desktop organizer. Designer CarrieKim has created this “Keep it Together” for your desktop to put papers, folders, magazines, books, ect. inside and store small items on the outside using magnets and magnetic tins. Each “Keep it Together” piece is original and handmade using acrylic. She offers several color options for your modern decor. Check them out here >>

Sharing my new article from Boutique Cafe Finds > - Daria

Maja has been sharing some great tips and finds over the past week to make doing your laundry more enjoyable. I had to also share this fun and inexpensive find that I discovered today from Organize-It online.

These sweet little disks are called the “SockPro Wash Organizer Disks” and cost $3.99 for a set of 10. The great thing about them is you just slip a pair of dirty socks through the middle of the disk, then toss them into the washer or dryer…voila…your clean socks emerge from the dryer as a set! They come in several different colors, so you can even assign colored disks for each member of the family.

If you’re anything like me, our laundry room is the bermuda triangle vortex for matching socks. I’m really excited to give the SockPro disks a try. Happy Laundering - Daria.

Click here to view this cool product>

Each new year, I search for a new portable calendar to carry with me. I previously had gone electronic (but I missed the pen on paper feel. Even though I think it is more efficient). In the past I’ve had a huge planner (I had multiple places that I needed to be - and was perfect for then),  a small calendar that fit in my purse (totally useless and never used),  now flash forward to my new wonderful find!! I am so excited about this one!

It is a Franklin-Covey product, and they are known world-wide for their classes on time management and accompanying planners. I have used them for years, but haven’t needed the super fat planner for a while. I finally found the perfect planner that is pretty, functional, large enough to actually fit useful information in, but still small enough that it fits in my purse (the page size is 4 1/8″ x 5 1/2″). It has a 2 page per week layout as well as a 2 page for a month at a glance. I am super thrilled with it! It is fun to open my purse and have a darling little calendar in there for all my scheduling on the go.

*While I was just looking this product up for the links, I noticed that for this week only, there is a 15% off the total purchase when you buy any binder and planner pages. The promo code is 18243 and expires 01/07/08. Lucky you! If you are busier, check out the larger planners as well. It is a great system - one that I have used for more than 15 years and have loved.Franklin Planner>