HSW giveaway Winner!

Hi Lovelies!

I'm so excited to announce the winner of my Howard's Storage World $50 gift card ....

Kirsten W

Congratulations! 

I've sent Kirsten's prize off to her today. Hope you enjoy picking out some goodies from HSW :)

Love xx

Organising your fur babies

I am always trying to be organised with my pet food. I feed my cats & dog fresh beef, chicken and mince. And because they don't all eat the same thing, I buy in bulk, portion and freeze their dinners.

I used to use Ziploc bags to do this, but I thought there had to be a cheaper way. It seemed such a waste to me to use a nice ziploc bag for something that is just going to be thrown away (I know, I know, isn't that the point you say?).

I stumbled upon the idea of using left over bread and those thin plastic bags you get from the supermarket to put your veggies in to freeze the pet food. After some trial and error I found that it worked best if double bagged the food, so that when it was defrosting, blood didn't get everywhere.

I ordered these cute labels from Vistaprint.com.au where I waited for a special offer where I ordered both sets of 140 labels for free, and just paid for the slowest shipping ($4.95). I always find if I choose the slowest shipping my items come quite quickly anyhow. I've probably had them for about a week, and I think when I ordered them the estimated arrival date was the 16th December.

Check them out and see what you think! I now just stick one of these labels on the pet food bagged up and I'm good to go! I also think they are really cute!!

One for Oscar and one for Ellie!

These were so easy to make and customise. I just love them and I'm so happy with the results!

What do you think? How do you organise you fur babies' food? Let me know below!

Love xx

Shift it to the Thrift Shop #2

Its Saturday morning, and there is nothing like the feeling of de-cluttering!

I've got some more not so treasured items to take to my local second hand clothing bin.

I must stress again, please don't take them things that are broken, dirty or rubbish. It costs the charity money to dispose of your items. They need good quality sellable items!

Here's what I'm donating today!

Three brand new room fragrance sprays from Crabtree and Evelyn (I bought them to try, but room sprays are just not for me!) and a charm bracelet which I think was from Target (I thought it was really cute - and it is, but I just haven't worn it).

Coffee that came in a get well hamper. I don't drink coffee, so off it goes.

A Black Books bar set, which I won years ago and has been sitting on my bar are, never used. Time to move on!

Another room fragrance spray that I bought after Christmas last year. Seeing as its coming up to the next Christmas and I still haven't used it, time to find a new home!

I'm really sorry to throw these out. I paid $112.50 on sale for these new joggers a few weeks ago. I have tried to wear them, but they have a synthetic lining and make my feet scream. They feel so hot on. I just know I can't and won't wear them, so they need to go!

Have you been inspired to do some purging? I hope so! Comment below and tell me what you've donated lately! 

Love xx

Meal organisation

Good morning!

I have a confession to make. I don't always stick to my meal planner. I know...shocking! I shop using Woolworths Online, so I usually get my groceries delivered on a Sunday morning. Sometimes they get it right and sometimes they get it wrong, but so far, so good! I plan and order my shop on Friday afternoons or in the wee hours of Saturday mornings. 

I use a meal planner that sticks to the fridge from Target - It was around $15 or $20. I can't remember exactly. I used to write really elaborate meal plans with me cooking from scratch every night. It just doesn't work. I need a few simple meals that I take out of the fridge & cook (like 'Steak and salad or Chicken Schnitzel & salad). 


 When I am working (I work part time and casually) I cannot face making a meal at the end of the day, all I want to do is veg out on the couch!

I love how there is space down the bottom for 'shopping list' items and the powerful magnets make sure it doesn't move. I find that the meal planning helps with waste. When I don't plan I throw out a lot of food. I know there are things in the fridge, but I'm not exactly sure how they fit together.

This planner has been working well for me. Each week I just tear off a new sheet. It always looks nice and I can see at a glance what we are eating for the week. I plan on sharing this every week!

What do you use for your meal planning? Let me know below!

Love xx

Win a $50 Howard's Storage World Gift Voucher!

Hey hey!

After being just SOOOO excited by my HSW catalogue today, I've decided to hold a competition.

You can win a $50 HSW voucher, all you have to do is comment below your favourite organising tip!

This competition is no way sponsored by Howard's Storage World, I'm just a fan :)

I will contact the winner within 24 hours of the closing date and you must be over 18 and an Australian resident to win!




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Chux Magic Wand - Review

Hi di hi!

This past week Woolworths had the new and improved (their words not mine) Chux Magic Wands on sale - half price or maybe better than half price, I can't remember. Because I shop online, the online original price is slightly higher, so better than half price.

I don't know when the sale ends, maybe today? I bought two and took them out of the packaging immediately (as it was our recycling week and I wanted to get as much out of the house as possible!).

I used the Chux wand on my sink. Its a white ceramic sink and it gets really dirty, in-fact even though I scrub and scrub, I can't get it back to the original white colour. Hopefully early next year I'm getting my kitchen renovated so it will be sayonara sink! Anyways, I love cleaning, but I don't love getting cleaning products on my hands, I usually wear gloves. I really loved the larger surface area of this scrubber. It was very sturdy and did a very good job on my yucky sink.  

As you can see I've upgraded my scrubber from the blue one! Flash! So I poured Jif cream over my sink, let it sit for a while then went to town using the Chux scrubber. It did a very good job. I filled the container with water to help wash the Jif away as I scrubbed, then rinsed the whole sink thoroughly with water. Voila! Now my sink is nice and clean. I also read that you can buy different cleaning pads/heads, I'll def be giving a try. I do love a new or improved product!

Have you tried the new Chux scrubber? (Please note these opinions are my own and I paid for both my Chux scrubbers myself).

Love xx

New Howard's Storage World catalogue out now - Beyond excited!

G'day!

It really says something about you when the arrival of your latest Howard's Storage World email sends you into a spin AND that the arrival of a new catalogue makes you feel the need to text people the web address.

http://catalogue.hsw.com.au/Syndication/HowardsStorage/Hub/Howards-Storage-World-Catalogue/Bright-and-Merry-mini-9806?guid=&did=1022102151462133805131029&utm_source=HowardsStorage&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Howards-Storage-World&aff_sub5=&aff_sub1=&utm_source=cheetahmail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=251113_2936_Xmas_edm%203

Ok, so I've finally calmed down and had a good look through, there are a few things I'd like to get. Namely the nail polish shelf, which I'm going to put in my bedroom and some bathroom accessories. Take a look, I wonder if you're as excited about this as I am???

Love xx

Sistema Klip It Container Range - Half price @ Coles

Hi Ya'll,

Remember how I tell you to NEVER buy Sistema or Decor plastic containers unless they are half price??? Well for the next week - the entire Sistema range in half price at Coles. I am a Sistema & Decor hoarder, so I don't need any, BUT if you do, now is the time to stock up!

Sorry for the crappy pic, but I don't know how to do screen shots on my iMac!

Love Xx.

Shift it to the Thrift Shop!

Hi Lovelys!

I have been doing some clearing out (lots more posts to come) and I've got some items that I'm dropping off at my local Vinnies today. All these items are new, and I guess I've been hanging onto them because "someday" I might need them or be able to give them away.


Apologies for the quality! I'm saving up to buy a camera to blog with (suggestions welcome!). I'm currently just using my iPhone!

The items are a mixture of things I have been given and bought. Obviously I don't like them that much, because I'm getting rid of them. They are all new or close to new and I'm really doing this blog to show you that its 'ok' to throw away donate new things that you don't use.

This chubby lipstick came in the November Bella Box ($15 a month for deluxe samples delivered to your door.) I used to really love my Bella Box, especially since it came in a gorgeous cardboard box that I could use for organising. The last two months it has been CRAP - so I've cancelled. I haven't unwrapped the lippy, I just know I won't use it, and I'm sure someone else would love it.

This bag was actually a birthday present. Now I'm sure there are lots of people out there who would LOVE a bag like this, but I'm not one of them. There isn't even a brand or tag inside. Its made of PVC and looks great from far away, but its really not my style.

You might not be able to see from this photo, but these three cans are actually sealed in a pack together. I bought them from Costco (can't remember the price), with the starter pack. I placed it outside on my back verandah with the hopes of keeping all those pesky summer flies at bay. The smell was so horrendous, that I threw the whole thing out, and now I'm left with the refill pack. Time to send these fellas packing too!

This bangle was with the bag, its not any kind of precious metal and makes my skin itch. Off with its head!

A brand new book that I bought at an airport book store for TOP dollar! I read the first few chapters on the plane, but it never really grabbed me. A total waste of $35!

I've tried two of these lens wipes, firstly they were cheap and I thought would be handy to keep near my iMac, however when I opened them up they are just too wet and leave water droplet marks on my screen. Crappola!

This little make up kit was too cute and too cheap not to pass up. I think it was one of the ones for sale at Coles this past Christmas. I bought it after it had been on sale and it was really cheap, like $2 cheap! I didn't find anyone to give it away to or find any use for it myself. Get outta here!

OK, so I've had a bit of fun doing this. Giving my items away and knowing they will be going to a new home where they would be appreciated, loved and cherished! But on a serious note, have a look through one wardrobe, cupboard or shelf, I JUST bet there are new items that you are hanging onto, even though you don't like, need or want them. SHIFT them to the THRIFT shop! Please don't take rubbish to charity shops or things they won't be able to sell, because then it just costs them money to get rid of it. All my items are new and I bet for the right price, some one would buy any or all of these items.

I'll be posting more 'Shift it to the Thrift Shop' posts soon! :)

Much love!

XX

Sistema Klip It Containers HALF PRICE at Coles/BiLo!

Hello Fellow Organising Lovers!

This week, and next week (last day is Tuesday 10th September - as these are on sale for TWO weeks) Sistema Klip It containers are half price.

If you've read my earlier blog posts you know I've advocated you not to buy Decor and Sistema containers at any other price other than half price. Today I was in my local Bilo and I bought up big! I wanted to re-organise and update the cupboard above my fridge (where I keep all my dry baking goods). In the next few days (hopefully) I will finish this project and post!

As you can see they had a great range in store (sorry for the amateurish pics, I felt strange taking photos of the products on shelves, and thought someone might think I was doing something dodgy.)

I mainly bought from their BPA free range - the tan klips. This sale offers great value! Like I've said before, never pay full price!! I'm also tipping that after this sale the Decor range will have a sale soon too (thats what I've noticed happening in the past).

Let me know if you buy any and what you use them for.

Love xx

I heart my label maker

I love labelling things. Do you?? I wish I had HEAPS of time to make beautiful and gorgeous labels, but I don't. I love using my Dymo LetraTag label maker. I have had one for almost 10 years, and then it died earlier this year. I did have a look around for others, but I decided to stick with what I knew and loved! The machine itself is inexpensive, easy to use and produces good quality labels. I have a whole collection of tape and use it to label EVERYTHING. 

I bought this one and my previous label maker from Big W and Coles for half price. They always come on sale, usually after christmas in the stationary and back to school sales. 

I'm thinking of buying one of these as well. You can print from your computer and they look really professional. I found this deal from Dymo Online and I think its not a bad deal. I always buy my label tape in bulk, so I'm likely to buy a few hundred dollars worth of tape at one time and the fact that I get the label maker for free is drawing me in!

http://www.dymoonline.com.au/dymoonline-bundle-deals/free-fast-machine-with-15-x-lw-label-purchase/

What do you use to label things in your house? Do you have the same love for your label maker as I do? Let me know in the comments!

Love xx

I heart my pantry - ALL DONE!

Can you believe it?? It's all done! Taking photos and writing notes has taken waaaaaay longer than the actual organising. But its part of the process and I want to share my thinking.

Here is the bottom shelf all done. I've got a turn table (Lazy Susan) from Howard's Storage World. You can pick them up in store, but I got this one from their online store. I've got all my oils, sauces and salt and pepper stored on this. I wish you could see it spin, its AmAzInG! Yes, I really am that excited about the way it spins.

My cans and jars are stacked up really nicely on this expanding shelf (again from Howard's Storage World). I don't use these cans and jars a whole lot, so I don't mind stretching behind to get them. 

My orange dot on peanut butter shows which jar I'm currently using. Saves me reaching for the wrong one. 

I removed some of the jars so you can see the expanding shelf. It has a rubber matting with grip so your jars and cans won't slide around. I love the way it steps up and expands to fill any space. It makes it so easy to see what I've got and what I need to buy.

I put all my packets and sachets to the side. I use these often. You might be able to see behind them a packet of stock as well. They all stand nicely and I can easily see what I need and what I have. 

I added back my hanging shelf (again from Howard's Storage World) to store biscuits and any other packets I don't want squashed. It makes good use of the space I can't use due to this shelf being quite tall. Seeing as I don't use the jars at the back too often, it doesn't affect being able to access that area.

The third shelf up holds more cake making ingredients, tea, coffee, batteries and phone chargers.

I used another one of the 8.5L Decor buckets (check out my earlier post). In front of the bucket is my tea caddy (from Howard's Storage World). On the left you can see three stacked plastic boxes with dividers. They came from K Mart and were in the hardware section. The bottom one has more Tea & Hot Drinks. Next one up has phone chargers, phone cords and Lens Cleaning Wipes (from Costco). The very last one has all my batteries and screws - little pieces of hardware I use often and usually around the kitchen area.

So here is my box with Tea and Hot Chocolate. I must admit I have taken these from VERY expensive hotels. And seeing as I don't drink tea & coffee, I keep it only for guests and visitors. The Twinings wouldn't fit in the tea caddy, so I had to think of another solution. This cam from K Mart and was around $6.

This container holds our iPhone chargers, small torches, lens cleaning wipes (which I use to clean the screen of my phone, TV and iMac, as well as some velcro tape. I used to find that the iPhone cords were floating around and when you really needed one you couldn't find one. Thank goodness that isn't a problem anymore!!

The last box in the stack holds all different sizes of batteries, screws and other things to do with drawers or hanging pictures. Before I had them all organised like this I found that I was forever buying packets of batteries, screws and picture hooks, as I could NEVER find them. Then when I did eventually find where they had been stashed, I'd have a 2-5 year supply of them. Organising my batteries and screws this way has definitely saved me money!

This box is smaller than the previous two, it was around $4 from K Mart. I made the labels with my Dymo LetraTag (more on that in an upcoming post). 

I LOVE this tea caddy (and I don't even drink tea!) It was quite pricey at around $15-20 and it cam from Howard's Storage World. The lid just closes so nicely and it feel like quality.

The top shelf is quite high up and I rarely reach up there. I have 3 things up there, cake tins, foil trays & plastic plates used to transport food or 'take a plate' and straws.

All done! I'm happy that its more organised and everything has its place. 

How do you organise your pantry cupboard??

Love xx

I heart my dry goods shelves - Pantry do over

I have spent about 10 mins re-organising my dry goods shelves in the pantry.

The first thing I did was fix up the space that used to be a wrap dispenser (foil and/or cling wrap). I keep things in here that I use often or don't fit in the shelves properly elsewhere. I keep mustard and curry powder, a packet of matches and some kitchen labels (which I put on containers of leftovers and find them a new home in the freezer). My labels came from the $2 shop and they were $2 they are on a pad and I use them a lot!

Last night I cooked too much boiled rice, and instead of throwing it out or letting it sit in the fridge until it got thrown out. I put in into a plastic container, with a label and put it in the freezer for use another time.

On the bottom shelf I have all my food colourings. This way I'm never milling in the cake aisle at the supermarket wondering if I have one colour or another. I always know what I've got because I look at them every day!

 

What do you think of my use of this space?

Next, I started with an empty shelf, so I took everything out and placed it on my kitchen bench. 

As you can see, the shelves are quite narrow and deep, so you can fit a lot in... but you can't see what you've got very well. I used Decor plastic containers to solve the problem on this shelf.

The larger box is 8.5L and the smaller is 5.5L. The larger one I got from Big W in the christmas sales (and I can't remember how much I paid - sorry!). I have put cake mixes, icing sugar and dry biscuits that I use to make slices and the bases for cheesecakes. The smaller one I got from Coles and I paid half price. DO NOT pay full price for these containers!! Don't pay 20%, 30% or 40% off, wait it out until they come up for sale in the weekly specials at 50% off, it WILL happen! When I see these for sale at 50% off I buy up! Anyways, in the smaller one I keep boxes of jelly and sachets of shakes and pudding mix.

I've put the handles facing the front so I can easily pull them out when I need them. 

The next two containers are also the Decor 5.5L ones with the blue handle. In one I keep more baking ingredients (things I use in my slices or cakes). In the other I keep nuts and dried fruit, which could be classified as 'baking ingredients' but I actually eat these either on their own or in salads. Crasins and slivered almonds.... have you tried it?? They are delish!

Look how easy it is to just pull one container out!

Next I put my Quick Oats in. I love having these a few times a week for breakfast, so I need them within easy reach. 

The box slides nicely into place. 

Infront of my quick oats bag, I'm going to put my box of Ziploc bags. I got these from Costco. I heart my Ziploc bags and I especially heart Costco!

Slides nicely into place! The last thing I put into this shelf was a box of Lindt chocolates that I bought on sale at Coles (half price). I always like to buy these when they are reasonably priced. They come in handy when there is an unexpected birthday or thank you present to be given. I want to know they are there, but I don't want to have them presented to me so nicely that I want to eat them!

Phew.... and that's just one shelf! I'll just take photos of the rest and put them into another post! Hope you've enjoyed reading!

Love xx

My Pantry Cupboard - Before

My Pantry Cupboard

So I haven't updated my pantry cupboard since January! Can you believe it??? I think its time to do a little throwing away and re-organising! On each shelf I have plastic containers to keep like items together. This cupboard is really narrow and deep, so it makes it hard to get to things at the back! I'll post a shelf by shelf analysis of what I've done soon. 

How do you organise your supplies?? Have any tips, tricks or cool ideas??

Love xx

First Post!

Well I've finally done it! I've started a blog about everything I love and everything that makes me happy! I figure that most people love being organised, or at least the idea of being organised. I'm a bit of both. If I don't have time, things can go awry pretty quickly. So when I have put an organising system into place, I want to travel back in time and kiss my past self, for making life easy! I love labels, cooking, travelling, shopping and making my home a functional and beautiful place! My next post will be about my pantry cupboard in the kitchen! I did a complete overhaul in January and am about to have another go!

Love xx