Works For Me: Containers, Containers

I love the blog I'm An Organizing Junkie.  Laura writes with grace and practicality about the tricky issue of organization, and I always leave her blog feeling encouraged, not guilty.  I highly recommend her blog for your list of everyday reads.

The best thing I've learned from observing Laura is how helpful it is to have a stash of various-sized containers on hand when an organizing challenge arises.  Previously, when I was cleaning out a drawer or a closet (you know, every TEN YEARS or so), I'd find myself running to the store mid-project for the necessary containers.  It made organizing projects that much more overwhelming.

But now I've started buying interesting-looking containers when I find them on sale (dollar stores are perfect for this), and I keep a stash of them in my garage.  I find that I'm much more likely to tackle organization projects when I know I most likely have the containers on hand.  It's a little thing, but it's been a big help.

Have a clever idea you'd like to share?  Blog about it at your place and leave a link below.  WFMW guidelines can be found here.

1. An Iowa Mom 2. Smockity Frocks (Chopping Onions) 3. Neighbor Jane (church toy) 4. An Iowa Mom (Vomiting Children) 5. Wooden Porch (coverup belly fat) 6. OW (bargain shopping tips) 7. Org Junkie 8. Barbara H. (A devotional exercise) 9. Beth F. (cleaning schedule) 10. Tammy\'s Recipes (night time potty training) 11. I Corinthians 10:31 (resourceful weight-loss site) 12. Owlhaven (playdough taming) 13. KD (Keep Your Clothes On) 14. Joyful Days 15. An Ordinary Mom (canker sores) 16. Ogle 4 (walking) 17. sa5ra (summer clothes) 18. oh amanda (beauty products) 19. Michelle at Scribbit (summer crafts for kids) 20. Merchant Ships (local guides) 21. Our Side (baby carrying) 22. The Pumkin Patch(buying in bulk) 23. Kelly (warm baby bath wash) 24. Cherish The Home (Perfume For Summer) 25. Totallyscrappy (teacher gifts) 26. Ami (no more set stains) 27. Carla (baseball dugout) 28. Robin (sewing tools at hand) 29. Song Of The Sagebrush (Yummy Iced Coffee) 30. Jessica (iced tea) 31. Amy Jane (Freezing milk) 32. Joo (Tacos made easy) 33. It Coulda Been Worse (Taco Seasoning) 34. Sam(antha) (2 Pens for Church) 35. Kel (Boredom busters for kids) 36. Pastormac\'s Ann (helping pass the time) 37. ThoughtfulMom (feeding station) 38. Jenny (washing soda) 39. Lori - Queen of Dirty Laundry (Fixing Myself) 40. A Juggling Mum (Shower Timer) 41. Stuck in North Idaho 42. Marcia (preventing flu) 43. madridmom (taming the sock monster) 44. Liza\'s Eyeview (Support Groups) 45. Cat (spending money for kids) 46. Toni (too many hair clips) 47. a suburban housewife (library laundry basket) 48. Jaime (30 day menus) 49. Just in case (Free Movies - In the Theatre)! 50. Katrina (blind cord safety) 51. Elizabeth (recycling paper)

52. Stephanie (kid clothes) 53. JanB (Circle cleaning) 54. Heather (Computer post-its) 55. Multitasking Mama (table by the door) 56. Mom in Action (Free 411) 57. EverydayMommy (Google Reader) 58. Katiebod (practical/useful gift idea) 59. Kathy (running) 60. Jessica (How I saved money at Target) 61. Jennifer (quick pick up) 62. Lorie(The Library) 63. Jen (TIP TO SAVE $) 64. Elizabeth (Cleaning Smooth-Top Stove) 65. Weary Parent (finders fee) 66. Amblin (avoiding library fines) 67. Amy (Healthy, Yummy Pancakes) 68. Girl Gone Wild ( 69. Girl Gone Wild (Remedy for Hiccups) 70. Mrs. A ( Kitchen Utensil Holder) 71. tonsofsons 72. Candace (engorgement) 73. Michelle (Freezer Jams and Labeling) 74. jen (preserving fruit) 75. Jen Smith 76. Lynnae (Laundry System) 77. Devildogwife (strawberry picking) 78. Janel (warm toes & cheap dresses) 79. Mama Says 80. jen (easy kids\' summer scrapbook) 81. MC Milker - 4 Hour Expedition 82. Mandy (moving/packing tip) 83. So Many Joys (Wish List for Kids) 84. Sarah (Burning Extra Toddler Energy) 85. Lana G! (Toothpicks!) 86. Karen L (clean gardening) 87. Kim ( * can YOU make salad? * ) 88. J. Fergie (Cupcake Baking Trick) 89. Crystal @ Biblical Womanhood (homemaking during difficult seasons) 90. Amy 91. Coralie (Edible Bowls) 92. Darcy (Washing Down Comforters) 93. Amy (org. measuring cups) 94. Amy (drawer organizer) 95. Many Little Blessings (Pantry Organizing) 96. Kali (Organized in Baskets) 97. Mrs. Pear (Best Errand Running Day) 98. Jennifer daytime sleeper) 99. Jennifer (small house survival-corrected) 100. Heather(easy dinner rolls!) 101. GiBee (fixing paper-bound cookbooks) 102. Amber (saying NO to kids)

103. Carrie (prayer jar) 104. SeaBird (Father\'s Day Polo Giveaway) 105. Eden (FREE Magazine) 106. JensRambles (laundry tips) 107. The Estrogen Files (Simple Home Remedies) 108. Elena (home ready for nail fungus 109. Just In Case :(Free Movies in Theatre Correct link) 110. The Cheerio Queen (no more scratched, broken , or unorganized dvds) 111. GP in Montana(sweet impressions) 112. Karen (reading routine) 113. MommaBlogger (Challah) 114. Christine (WFMW: 20 cent STYLISH greeting cards) 115. Karen\'s Korner ("Beautifying" Idea) 116. Land O\' Sunshine (taco night) 117. Monkey Kisses (Kitchen Organizer) 118. Gone Coastal 119. My Twenty Cents Keeps Moving(potty training) 120. Melissa (how not to clean on Saturday\'s!) 121. Amy W (travel and pillow) 122. Jen (Travel Tips with Little Ones) 123. MrsB (making bathtime easy) 124. Kathy (Kids Help Out, PLEASE) 125. Shauna (summer reading lists) 126. Liz (Keeping Birthdays Simple) 127. Ranee @ Arabian Knits (Teaching Generosity to Children) 128. His Girl (Garden Record Keeping) 129. Jordan @ MamaBlogga (Finding fun websites) 130. Carrie J ( Useful Flickr Toys) 131. Tiffany (Bible study help) 132. Christine~A Quick tip for a sheer tint 133. MrsLady (Write Your Congressman!) 134. Melissa (No More Overdraft Fees!) 135. Ellen B.(Get your praise on!) 136. Emily (day planner) 137. Kara (pay bills online) 138. Amy (grocery list management) 139. Dawn (My Timer) 140. Embracing the Journey (my solution to "treasures") 141. ABC (Sturdy Plastic Bags) 142. Ann Kroeker (buying locally) 143. Kim - Table Toppers for eating out and messy crafts 144. Bo-taitai (candles) 145. Allison 146. Dana (Removing Hairspray) 147. Amanda Stephens 148. Amanda (Menu Planning) 149. MemeGRL (kid safety) 150. MrsX (Chocolove) 151. Lisa (stocking the freezer)

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Comments

[Myfriendconnie]

Thank you, Shannon.

[An Iowa Mom]

I'm all about containers! :)

Thanks for the tip!

[Laura]

I love it Shannon....this is music to my ears!! You are so sweet. Oh how I'd love to see your container for your containers...he he...come on I know you have one!

Laura

[Overwhelmed!]

I love containers and, I agree, the dollar stores have some good finds!

[Joyful Days]

Beats my Wal-Mart bag collection. I've about run out of room for storage...me thinks it's time to purge.

Thanks for hosting,Shannon.

[oh amanda]

My favorite containers are ziploc bags! I could organize my whole house in them!

I'm doing my 2nd WFMW today! ;)

[Michelle]

Sounds like I'll be adding another blog to my lengthy list of feeds . . . thanks for the tip, I love finding new blogs to love.

[Meredith]

If only I didn't have to contain all my empty containers!

[Carla]

I had containers on the brain too! LOL I have so many plastic storage containers, and fabric ones, and...I just like to be organized.

[Jessica Snell]

My favorite containers recently are baskets: if you put a potted plant in them, the result is really pretty!

peace of Christ to you,
Jessica Snell

[Laura]

PS: this is the first time that anyone has EVER used the word grace and Laura in the same sentence!! LOL

[Amy Jane]

I don't dare buy a container before I have a use for it-- I would be overrun...

[Joo]

Funny - I just found her blog today and I love it! Thanks!

[Lori - Queen of Dirty Laundry]

You know, I really need to start doing this. I tend to see nice containers, wonder what I could use them for, buy just enough, and then wish later on I had more.

I just need to start buying all those suckers and worry about what to do with 'em later, right?

Thanks for the d'oh! moment.

[Jenny]

I love her website too! You would probably also enjoy "The Lazy Organizer" at http://laragallagher.com/blog/.

[Cat]

Funny you mention "organizing challenges," such as drawers, because look what I posted yesterday!:

http://20dollarsaday.livejournal.com/31173.html

[Toni]

Up for another reason, I stumbled in to the computer at 5am to post today. Some part of me thought perhaps I'll be first BUT NO! I am 46th!! Who are you crazy people in the top 5! Do you get up at 3am or what? Because if that is the case, I want no part of it I tell you... noooo, part of it! :)

Respectfully yours,
A participant usually from the 100 range

P.S. I love containers too and find them in odd sorts of places (here's my last great find - http://thissimplelife.net/blog/2007/01/27/photo-hunters-theme-silver) Thanks for hosting this each week. I always learn so much.

[Dolly Acosta]

I love that site too- You and her are on Faves list :)

[Elizabeth]

Thank you for the blog info!

[Heather Cady]

Thanks for hosting!

[floorplan]

Shannon, just had to laugh at the juxtaposition of 2 WFMW entries this morning:

"Vomiting Children" next to "Cover-up Belly Fat"

Only a mom could love that one : )

[Jennifer]

I'm going to print out a copy of your post from today and tape it on the wall above the dresser in the hallway which is piled high with containers in preparation for our upcoming *playroom overhaul*. :-) Thanks for hosting...this is my first WFMW and it's been fun!

[Char :: Weary Parent]

This is my first WFMW - I came here via Laura's site. I love containers too - just need to use them more.

My WFMW post has to do with a finder's fee for lost electronics in our house.

[Amblin]

Great tip! I love organizing ideas...because I'm not a naturally organized person and I need all the help I can get.

Ironically, my WFMW tip today involved avoiding library fines by using a container idea! Too funny!

[Amy]

I also have enjoyed the organizing blog. She has definately inspired my drawers!