Kitchen Organization – Storage Gadgets to Streamline Your Kitchen
The #1 culprits for kitchen disorganization are gadgets. Gadgets for baking cookies, gadgets for making the perfect cup of coffee, gadgets for zesting your lemons! Not to mention the gadgets for mixing, cutting, scoring, whisking and any other single-purpose, must-have kitchen tool!
How many choppers and peelers does one kitchen need? Unless you have a gourmet kitchen with tons of drawers and innovative storage organizers, these must-have gadgets can quickly take over much-needed kitchen storage space.
Top 10 Organizers to Help Manage your Kitchen Gadgets
#1: 3 Tier Bamboo Expanding Shelf– Maximize limited space with this eco-friendly and practical shelf. Great in the pantry or any cabinet space!
#2: Wrap ‘n Bag Organizer – Take advantage of prime door or wall space by mounting a couple of these units to store your rolls of wrap.
#3: Pull-Out Lid Organizer – Use every inch of cupboard space and store unruly pot lids, baking pans and cutting boards with this clever pull out unit.
#4: Expand-a-Drawer Spice Organizer – Easy-to-fit spice organizer that adjusts to your drawer width.
#5: Norpro Knife Organizer – A cool tool that is simple, yet effective for keeping sharp knives stored in an organized fashion.
#6: Undershelf Mesh Basket – This slide on, open basket saves you space and provides additional storage in otherwise “wasted” space.
#7: Wooden Stemware Rack – Free up valuable shelf space with this easy-to-install wine glass storage rack. A simple design that can be stained to match your cabinetry!
#8: Magnetic Canisters– Save counter and drawer space by storing your spices in these sleek canisters. Mount metal strips to your backsplash or on the inside of a cupboard door.
#9: Vertical Cabinet Dividers – Natural wood expandable organizers create an efficient system to corral items.
#10: Shelf Track and Bin– Perfect for storing small items like sauce packets and tea. This little wonder maximizes the space on the front of your shelves and slides along the track with ease.
Gadget Guide: Give the Gift of Less Clutter! Gift Ideas for the Organizing Challenged
Do you know someone who struggles to stay organized? Maybe your best friend can never find her phone fast enough to catch an important call? Or perhaps you are in need of a creative gift for your child’s teacher?
Let’s face it – we could all use a little help organizing our life. That’s why I pulled together my top 10 inexpensive gift ideas for those who will appreciate a gadget that will help them get through their week!
Top 10 Gifts for the Organizing Challenged
#1: Days of the Week Magnetic Clip – Try using these clever clips on a magnet board close to the entryway. Clip reminders for your family that can easily be changed each week.
#2: Galison Weekly Organizer – For you tech-shy people, this portable tri-fold comes with a weekly planner pad, sticky notes, and an accordion organizer to manage receipts.
#3: Fabric Buckets – These versatile and eco-friendly buckets are so much fun and offer a ton of function! Besides the endless storage uses, these work great as gift baskets. Available in 3 handy sizes!
#4: Family Facts Notepads – The ‘Daily Scheduler’ and ‘Note to School’ pads are formatted to help you manage your busy family life.
#5: Supermarket Smarty List – No ordinary grocery list…this dry-erase card helps you plan dinner while at the store! It’s a handy shopping and menu- planning card that fits in your purse and comes complete with a coupon pocket.
#6: Page Pockets and Pen Loops – These colorful pockets attach to the inside of your notebook to hold biz cards, coupons, notes or photos, turning an ordinary notebook into a super organizer!
#7: Phone Bungee – No more fumbling for your phone! Use one of these colorful bungees to tether it to your bag so you can quickly and easily retrieve it.
#8: Grid It – Strap your stuff down and tuck it in your backpack, purse, or briefcase. These elastic straps are strong enough to hold hand tools, digital devices, and the junk that clutters the bottom of your handbag.
#9: Polka Dot Storage Bin – Line up these fun, flexible bins to store toys, books, and clothing. These fun and funky designs will dress up any room and are easily carried. Available in 2 sizes.
#10: Handbag Organizer – Organize your essentials in multiple pockets, making your pen and lipstick easy to find. To change handbags, simply grab the handle and voila, no more dumping from one bag to another, only to forget your phone!
Finding a unique gift on a budget can be challenging. Let’s prevent the clutter that accumulates from “junky” gifts each year and give the gift of organization with a gadget that can make life easier!
Check out the Niche Designs’ blog for more Do-It-Yourself organizing tips!
Gadget Guide: Control the Cord Chaos – Top 10 Gadgets to Clean Up Your Cords
Love your gadgets, but don’t love all the cords that come with them? Who can blame you? Between the cords, and cables, the power bars and the charging stations, you end up with an unsightly mess. Try these solutions to “clean up” the cord chaos that lurks under your desk and behind the media center.
Top 10 Gadgets to Clean Up Your Cords
#1: Cable Drop Cord Clips – These little clips come in packages of 6 and are self-adhesive that secure cords anywhere on your desktop or work area. The best part – when you unplug your laptop, the cord won’t slip off behind the desk!
#2: Cable ID’s – Not only is there a space to label which cord is being tamed, but each pack comes with 8 different colors. No more guessing which cord is the printer when troubleshooting is in order!
#3: 3M Command Cord Clips – An inexpensive solution that will easily adhere unsightly cords underneath your desk. Make sure you purchase 2 to 3 packs so that you can secure each cord in more than one location.
#4: Cable Clamp – These reusable clamps do their best work when used to corral the cords behind your media center. An easy-to-use cord management solution!
#5: Clean Floor Solution Bundles – The Cable Manager not only organizes the cords, it gets everything off the floor and mounts easily under the desk, leaving your floor space safe and free of cord clutter.
#6: Cord Cuffs – These low profile, adhesive tabs are designed to keep heavy cords in place without leaving a sticky mess behind.
#7: Cable Yo-Yo – Sometimes the cords can get out of control on top of the desk, limiting your work area. These handle little solutions allow you to coil cords, only leaving the exact length you need!
#8: Ikea’s Signum Organizer – This $5 solution hangs from the end of your desk and stashes surge protectors and extra cables out of sight.
#9: Kable Flags – Featuring 3 packages to accommodate your needs: DIY, Computer, or Entertainment. These handy little flags help distinguish which plug you need to pull amongst the tangle of cords at a power strip or CPU.
#10: Good Old Fashioned Twist Ties – In a pinch, check the grocery store aisle for good old fashioned twist ties to tether those cords into tidy bundles.
Check out the Niche Designs’ blog for Do-It-Yourself Cord Control video!
Gadget Guide: Back to School Gadgets Galore – Top 10 Smart Storage Tools for Back to School
We all know the drill when it comes to getting our kids ready for school. With the shopping list in hand, we prepare to start the new school year off fresh! Organizing for the new school year is always more fun when you throw in a few cool new “tools” for your kids (and you too, mom!)
Top 10 Smart Storage Tools for Back to School
#1: Slimline Quaddie Lunchbox – A must-have for neat-niks! This four compartment BPA-free container allows you to keep lunch items neatly organized.
#2: Nosh Pockets – Replace the hundreds of plastic bags this year with these colorful, reusable sandwich bags.
#3: Insulated Lunch Carrier – Easy to carry, easy to clean, with a few added features to keep lunch essentials secure.
#4: Magnetic Lunch Chart – Map out your child’s lunch menu ideas on this fun magnetic chart. Let your child help with this daily task that moms dread every year!
#5: Collapsible File Tote – A great solution for all of the paperwork that comes through the door during the school year. Keep it on your kitchen counter and label for your kid’s activities, contacts, school newsletters, and volunteer information.
#6: Magazine Pockets – These storage pockets work wonders to keep your kids organized. One for each member of the family with the capacity to keep homework, notes, house or bike keys safely stowed and organized. The options are endless!
#7: Wardrobe Cubby – For your younger child that argues every morning over what to wear. This hanging organizer features 5 handy compartments, one for each day of the week, with elastic side pockets as an added bonus!
#8: Cozi, the Online Organizer – A true gadget for the tech savvy! A free tool to help busy families keep up with appointments, lists, home and work schedules, all in one place. Very cool!
#9: Weekly Planner – This dry-erase, magnetic and corkboard all-in-one functions as a menu planner, kids’ activities, or a handy organizer for your teen’s study space.
#10: Over the Door Activity Center – Don’t wait to start teaching organizing skills. This activity center is a simple way to get your little one excited about school and learn organization along the way!
Don’t forget there is more to organize than clothes and school supplies. Check out these Top 10 To Do’s to make back to school organization a little less frantic.
Need more ideas? Sylvia’s blogs this month are “stocked” full of storage ideas to help you prepare for your children’s school year, and how you can get organized with lunches, menu planning, and a fully functioning message center. Happy School Year!!
Gadget Guide: Self-Propelled Fun – Top 10 No Batteries Required, Kid-Powered Toys
Does the thought of bringing yet another battery-powered, life-force sucking object into your child’s playroom make you cringe? The statistics don’t lie – kids today aren’t getting enough “Get up and go” time largely due to battery powered toys.
Top 10 No-Batteries-Required, Kid-Powered Toys
#1: Plasma Car – Let’s just say if they made an adult version of this wiggle your bum mode of transportation, less work would get done at the home offices of MOMeo Magazine! Designed for toddlers, the Plasma Car works by turning the steering wheel to get the vehicle going!
#2: Teddy Bear Bouncer – It’s like a cute and cuddly teddy and a fit ball rolled into one for kids! Perfect for pint-sized play, these bouncers are perfect for preschoolers who aren’t yet big enough for Hop Balls.
Available at toy retailers and fitness stores
#3: Little Tikes Alligator Classic Teeter Totter – There’s something universally appealing about piling onto either end of a teeter totter and seeing how fast you can get it rocking. What we love about the Little Tykes version is it works for either indoor or outdoor play!
#4: Monster Frisbee – For the bigger kids (or the big kid in all of us), a giant Frisbee! No, it doesn’t always fly straight and it’s not necessarily easy to catch, but it’s big and fun so who really cares if it’s flight path is a little less than perfect?
#5: Hop Balls – Scaled down versions of your favorite fit ball with a handle for ease-of-use and general, all-purpose fun. Hop Balls still require kids to engage all the core stabilizers of their grown-up counterparts without the need for a boring yoga routine!
Available at fitness retailers.
#6: Big Wheels – Remember coveting your cool neighbor’s fat-wheeled tricycle? Ahh yes, retro toys are the newest thing and Big Wheels are back in all their primary-colored plastic glory!
#7: Instep Pedal Cars – Beep, beep (without the annoying noise of a battery-powered motor grinding away at your nerves)! Instep makes Hot Rod, Fire Truck, and Police Car versions of their foot-powered cars.
#8: Twister Hopscotch – What do you get when you combine Twister and hopscotch? You get a game where the spin determines your route through the Twister rings! Retro fun at its best!
#9: Strider Run Bike – The best way to teach kids how to balance on a bicycle without resorting to using those pesky training wheels. Strider Run Bikes are exactly as they sound: bikes that you operate by running. No pedals, brakes or gears to worry about – just two feet on the ground.
#10: John Deere Pedal Power Mini Loader – Imagine the thrill of a kid-sized digger and that pretty much describes the Mini Loader. It’s a fully functional digger that let’s kids scoop and haul dirt. Gardens beware!
Gadget Guide: Are We There Yet? Top 10 Gadgets for Battling Backseat Boredom
Why is it that less than 7 minutes into any road trip you hear those dreaded words, “Mommy, I’m bored!”? Before you plug in a movie (or lose your mind), try these gadgets to battle backseat boredom!
Top 10 Gadgets for Battling Backseat Boredom
#1: Lap Desk – Think of it as a gadget to support other gadgets because whether it’s a puzzle or good old fashioned pen and paper, it’s a lot easier to use with a horizontal surface. Check out the MyDesk or Smart-E-Lapdesk from LapGear.com.
#2: A Journal – Perfect for sketching, writing down interesting places you visited or simply tracking how many red trucks passed when counting cars to earn ice cream at the next rest stop.
#3: Skip Hop Bento Bag – Okay, technically it’s a diaper bag, but it has the ultimate tool for battling backseat boredom: snacks! Cleverly built into the bottom of the bag, the Bento bag has a handy cooler bag complete with its own made-to-fit reusable ice pack and 3 pint-sized containers.
#4: Story Cubes – It’s a tiny box containing 9 picture cubes with the idea that you roll the cubes and make up a story (on your own or as a group) based on the images that are face up. Think of it as a storytelling icebreaker for kids.
#5: Magnetic Design Kits – No crayons or paper required for creative fun. All you need is the magnet case with the interchangeable backgrounds and the magnets. The kits range from space explorer to ballerina dress-up and EVERYTHING in between.
#6: Shape-by-Shape by ThinkFun – It’s not as easy as it looks to match the oddly shaped tiles to the picture card, but it does keep kids quiet as they try to figure out the puzzle. We love that the picture cards store in the bottom of the tile tray so no parts go missing enroute!
#7: Audio Books – iTunes and Audible carry tons of books for kids of all ages – from The Magic School Bus to Lord of the Rings. It’s the perfect substitute for the now standard mode of travel – plug in a movie and drive (plus it’s nice to listen as a family).
#8: Tablet or iPad – It’s amazing how much entertainment you can pack into these portable devices – from Monopoly to Mary Poppins to Matching Games. It makes you wonder how you ever traveled without one (for the kids, that is).
#9: Lug Nap Sac Travel Pillow/Blanket – How many times did your mother tell you, “If you go to sleep, we will be there faster!” It’s true that travel time goes much quicker (for everyone) if the kids are sleeping and this all-in-one travel blanket pillow is just what you need!
#10: Your Imagination – Gadgets are great, but sometimes what a road trip really needs is a rousing game of “Hey Cow!” or “I Imagine”. See our list of favorite road trip games for more creative travel games for kids!
Gadget Guide: Bling for Your Bicycle – Top 10 Gizmos to Glam Up Your Bike
Want to add a little bling to your bicycle? These are just a few of our favorite gizmos to glam up your bike. Warning: do not attempt to use all of them at once!
Top 10 Gizmos to Glam Up Your Bike
#1: The Bouncy Seat – You simply cannot appreciate a leisurely bike ride without what we affectionately call a “bouncy” seat. A fresh take on the spring seats of days gone by, bouncy seats are wide, squishy and of course, just a wee bit bouncy! Our favorite is the Electra Spring Seat because when it comes to leisure riding, they know what they’re talking about!
#2: Hand-Painted Bells – Arguably the gemstone of your bicycle, your bell deserves a little extra bling. That’s why we adore dringdring! The original, hand-painted bells range from cupcakes to “This bike is my car” designs – all brightly colored and beautifully painted.
#3: Sparkle and Shine – What is a blinged-out bicycle without stickers? From flowers to kitty cats to the traditional lightning bolt, Fun Reflector stickers are both fun and functional, adding to your visibility with their reflective design.
#4: Handlebar Basket – We love the Electra Quick Release baskets because they offer traditional looks with the modern convenience of a quick release for ease of use. Plus the sturdy mounting systems means you won’t damage your shiny new paint job in the name of carrying extra doo-dads around with you.
#5: Faux Fur Leopard Grips – What is not to love about faux fur leopard grips? Okay, so furry leopard print may not be your thing. Thankfully Electra has a range of styles and designs to suit everyone!
#6: Charming Spokes – So if you want to turn your wheels into spinning rainbows (and you know you do), what you need is bicycle spoke charms. A word of caution: if you find extra noise annoying, this isn’t the bicycle bling for you!
#7: Handlebar Streamers – How can 7-year-old girls be wrong? Sparkly, rainbow-colored streamers are fun, especially when they feature twirly flowers that spin when you go fast.
#8: Flower Flair – For the same reason we find the little flower in the new Beetle adorable, we love the Electra handlebar flowers! Choices include sunflowers, daisies, roses, and our favorite, the chrysanthemums!
#9: Custom Frame Bag – Tired of boring black frame bags? Us too! That’s why we got really excited when we discovered Revelate Designs – a company that makes custom frame bags in any size, any shape, but most importantly, any color!
#10: Hot Wheels – What’s a custom bicycle without custom wheels? Try customizing your hub, spoke, and rim colors for extra bling! We’re partial to the silver because it’s so shiny!
Gadget Guide: Outdoor Adventures With Kids – Top 10 Gadgets to Gear Up for the Great Outdoors
Nothing creates a lifetime of memories like the simple pleasure of roasting marshmallows over an open fire or poking a stick in the mud to see what’s beneath all that gooey goodness.
Just because you’re ‘roughing it’ doesn’t mean you need to go without creature comforts. Our top picks for the gadgets that make the great outdoors a little easier to bear (pun intended)!
Top 10 Gadgets to Gear Up for the Great Outdoors
#1: Safety First – If hiking conjures up visions of your toddler teetering off the edge of a cliff, get LittleLife Toddler Run-About Daypack. It’s just big enough to fit a few kid hiking essentials, but more importantly, it includes a detachable safety strap and top grab handle for those times when the trail gets a little rough.
#2: Fun with Food – Half the fun of camping and backpacking is eating out of weird and wonderful containers. Our favorites for fun with food are the pint-size Spork (spoon + fork = spork) from Light My Fire and the Squishy Bowl by Guyot Designs (doesn’t the name say it all?).
#3: Sun Safety – Fun in the sun isn’t fun without sun safety! That’s why we love the NoZone sun protective clothing – because no matter what you are doing, they’ve got you covered (literally)! For sun hats, our vote goes to Outdoor Research because their lightweight designs offer SPF 30 and are suitable for water sports.
#4: Camp Comfort – The hit of the camping party is always (hands-down), the hammock! Depending on your comfort level preferences, hammock choices range from lightweight nylon to traditional cottage woven rope styles.
#5: Stay Hydrated – One of the biggest risks when playing outside in the summer is dehydration. That’s why our must-haves include hydration systems! We love the Camelbak Mini MULE hydration backpack for the sheer novelty that has kids sipping all day and the Platypus Plus Bottle for converting any backpack into a hydration backpack. Warning: stay close to bathrooms until the kids get the hang of taking a break from sipping!
#6: Futuristic Flashlights – Imagine how much fun you would have had as a kid with a flashlight that attached to your head. Yeah, exactly. Middle of the night trips to the outhouse aren’t so bad with one of these little gizmos. Our favorite is Petzl Tikkina 2 because it comes in a rainbow of colors and it’s super simple to use!
#7: Posh Pillows – If you have a car and are going car camping, just bring your own pillow, but if you are stuffing it in a backpack and trekking anywhere, you may want to pack this little treat along (for the kids, of course)! Thermarest Compressible Pillow…ahh….backpacking bliss.
#8: Just in Case of Rain – Because rain happens (even when the weatherman says there’s no chance). We recommend the Columbia Sportswear Rainy Day Poncho because it’s easy to slip on over anything (including a backpack)!
#9: Daypacks and Backpacks – If your idea of fun is heading off into the wilderness with nothing but a pack on your back, check out the Osprey line of backpacks for kids. What we like about them is that they aren’t just scaled-down versions of adult packs, but backpacks that are specifically designed for kids (and to grow with kids).
#10: Snacks and Pocket Food – Let’s face it – if it can survive in your pocket, chances are it contains something you don’t really want to feed your kids. That’s why our top pick goes to Kettle Valley Fruit Snacks because they are 100% real fruit!
Gadget Guide: Organizing To-Go – Top Gadgets to Help You Stay Organized On-The-Go
Ahhh…summer vacation is here and your family has the perfect adventure planned. Besides your “bag of tricks” (candy), and travel toys, what can you do to prevent this “perfect” holiday from falling apart at the seams? Check out these top 10 Storage Solutions for the stuff that can get out of hand.
In the Car…
Travel Cord Organizer & Charging Case – If you have kids, you have electronics and a mess of cords, chargers, and adapters! Check out Kangaroom’s sensible and neat, all in one travel case to make your expedition easier!
Kids Back Seat Organizer – If you are traveling a long distance by car, you’ll want to make it as easy as possible for your kids to help themselves. Fabulous features include game table top with flip up sides, insulated sides to keep food chilled, fastens to the seat belt AND comes with a strap for portability!
Family First Aid Kit – This kit is ideal for family holidays, and is well equipped to treat most common injuries. Or save yourself a few bucks and create a custom safety bag to suit your needs with items from home.
Custom Travel Activity Kit – This is definitely a “luxury” item! If Grandma wants you to travel across the country with kids in tow, send this link to her as a not so subtle hint. Talk about spoiling your kids!
On your Adventures…
Waterproof Pouch – Keep your camera or iPhone save from sand and water while you are at the beach. Submergible and waterproof, this floating pouch is ideal protecting your expensive gadgets this summer.
On the Go Snacker Container – This unique container is designed to hold fruit and veggies separate from sauces. It is equipped with a removable ice pack and can help you encourage healthy snacks on the go this summer.
Purse Essentials – Stay organized on the go this summer with this set of 4 zippered pouches that clip together. This will prevent you from losing your everyday essentials as you switch purses and backpacks.
In Your Suitcase…
Eagle Creek Pack-It Stuff Sacks – Use this nylon mesh bags to organize everything from socks, t-shirts, sunscreen and bug sprays. Love the different colors and sizes, and the fact that they are breathable and fast drying. No more rooting around the backpack or suitcase, just grab the drawstring and pull!
Two-sided Cord Pouch – If you’re taking an adventure this summer with your family, you’ll want to keep all of your camera cords in this “tech tamer” pouch. This fantastic little wonder can store up to 10 cords tangle-free in an easy viewing labeled pouch!
Pack ME Note Pads – If your summer is jam-packed with many “mini-vacays”, you may want a pack of these checklist sheets to get you on your way, on time, and without going to the loony bin.
Need more tips on getting organized and staying organized? Go to www.nichedesignsinc.com!
Gadget Guide: Battling Backyard Boredom? Top 10 Outdoor Games for Family Fun
Dreading the backyard boredom this summer? Try one of our top 10 outdoor games for family fun!
Top 10 Outdoor Games for Family Fun
#1: The Campfire Classics – Remember the joy of throwing things at other things? That’s right – we’re talking about Horseshoe, and Lawn Darts. Thankfully these campfire classics include more modern safety features. How did we ever survive our childhood?
#2: Bocce Ball – Similar to Lawn Bowling, the objective is to place the ball closest to a smaller ball, called a Pallino. If you are playing with kids, forget playing within the confines of a purpose-built Bocce court and let the game wander around the yard.
#3: Badminton – There’s a reason Badminton comes on every camping trip – it’s just so easy to string up the lightweight net almost anywhere! Grab two rackets and a handful of birdies and you are ready to play!
#4: Hopscotch – Chalk plus sidewalk equals hours of jumping fun. If that doesn’t hold their attention, challenge them to make tricky obstacle courses to hop around!
#5: Giant Pick-Up Sticks – Just like regular Pick-Up Sticks, only much, much bigger! To play, let the sticks fall in a pile and take turns picking up sticks for points without disturbing the remaining sticks. The person with the most points wins.
#6: Tetherball – Think of it as Volleyball on a stick. The objective is to get the ball around your opponent until the tether is completely wrapped around the pole. Opponents volley the ball back and forth until a point is scored.
#7: Hula Hoops – We love them for their flexible fun. Yes, you can try your hand (err your tummy) at swirling them around, but you can also use them to start a circus, build an obstacle course or play any number of imaginative games.
#8: Croquet – Sometimes setting up a ball obstacle course is as much fun as chasing them through it with the little mallet. Fun and portable – that’s why we love it!
#9: Trac Ball – Ever wonder what those ball catchers than look like an elongated ice cream scoop were called? Well now you know! The objective is to throw and catch the ball with the basket-like catcher, using your wrist to curve and swerve the ball.
#10: Usborne 50 Things to Do on Holiday – Can’t think of what to do? Pull out a card and follow the instructions. Games range from Beach Bowling to Hotter or Colder.
