Favorite This: May 2017

May 30, 2017

Welcome back to the Live Simply blog, where we’re bidding almost farewell to the month of May.

Despite the fact that it feels partially like the past four weeks never even happened, so rapidly did they fly by, it was nonetheless a good month around here. I clamped container lids and swatted spiders in no less than four garages, battled massive stacks of paper clutter in a couple offices, and did some serious editing in numerous closets. So, like any other month, only this time, the sun actually made an appearance in Seattle for the first time since last September.

I spent the long weekend experiencing the glory of my house when the weather is nice, or, really more like preparing to enjoy the sunshine. I scrubbed the algae, moss, and so on from my roof deck, hacked away at weeds and the multitude of ugly plants the builder’s “landscaper” decided to haphazardly, though compactly, put in the ground, made at least three trips to Lowes, and bought so many lovely, non-caterpillery plants to replace the wretched ones. It was somehow simultaneously relaxing and exhausting. Can anyone relate to that feeling? What was the best part of your long weekend?

Okay, now I’ll quit the chit chat and commence the favorites.

 

A professional organizer's secret weapon products for keeping spaces super tidy.

1. Command Hooks

This past month (and longer than that) I’ve been having a real love affair with command hooks. That command hooks exist and are completely convenient in every way is hardly news. But, if you haven’t checked in with the 3M world in a while, you might be surprised to learn that there is truly a non-committal, non paint-chipping solution for just about everything.

I’m obsessed with the caddies, which you can stick on the inside of cabinet doors (I stuck the large size on the inside of my bathroom cabinet door as a way to relieve the countertop of my face washes which are too tall for my drawers; hello prayers answered).

Other winners include the broom hook, (life hack: this doubles fabulously as a hula hoop hook, as I discovered while organizing a play area this month), loop hooks, brilliant for gathering up the handles of bags and/or cords, and the all important jumbo hook, which can always be counted on to hang up even the thickest, heaviest instruments, including the handle to a large step stool, an unwieldy vacuum hose, et al.

 

 

A professional organizer's secret weapon products for keeping spaces super tidy.

 

2. Colored dot stickers

However dumb I may or may not feel writing about “colored dot stickers,” (seriously) (previous iterations of this sentence included: “the thing about these is: they’re colored dot stickers.” And: “Sometimes you need dot stickers…that are colored. And these are those.”) I would be remiss not to share these with you.

I exist on an extremely detail-oriented level, which is why I can assert that these colored dot stickers are so superior to other colored dot stickers. These stick solidly to whatever surface you apply them, but they also peel off with complete ease. No chipped nails, no residue left behind. The reason, I think, is because their adhesive is slightly waxy feeling. However, this is no way impacts your ability to write on them. Pen and marker write on them like they do on a sheet of blank computer paper. No drying time required, no smearing whatsoever.

I’ve used them on numerous occasions in the past, and was reminded to mention them when I used them this past month as expiration date stickers on the bottom of spice jars. I can rest easy at night knowing my client won’t want to strangle me when she goes to update those stickers in the future. They can also be used, of course, in any sort of color-coding situation. That same client and I used them to distinguish types of tea tins from each other–green for green tea, blue for oolong, etc.

 

 

A professional organizer's secret weapon products for keeping spaces super tidy.

3. Square spice jars

Speaking of spice jars, these square versions are my latest love and future go-to.

Let me tell you this right now: the way to maximize your space is to ensure things fit together as optimally as possible. When it comes to jars, that means a straight side beats a round edge every time. These square spice jars will fit next to each other in your pantry like perfectly neat jigsaw puzzle pieces. Their glass is just the right thickness, their capacity is ideal, they have real metal lids, available in black, white, silver, gold, green, and white, and they come with shaker tops, should you desire those.

My trained-chef-client and I converted her entire spice collection into these uniform jars this month, and the sight of them all lined up, labeled, colored-dot-stickered almost gave me an aneurysm. Or fits of giggles. Always confusing those two.

 

A professional organizer's secret weapon products for keeping spaces super tidy.

 

4. Acrylic hangers

This is the third hanger I have mentioned here, so please understand the gravity of this inclusion. My forever-mainstay hanger is, of course, this or any similar iteration. The second was mentioned in this post. And now comes these acrylic hangers.

These are the luxiest clothes-holder around, meaning they aren’t overly concerned with saving space, nor with being the cheapest. No, the acrylic hangers are the statement-makers in the world of hangers. They’re the cool girl. You marry the slim, non-slip hangers; you want to wine and dine, and date the bananas out of the acrylic hangers. You know what I mean?

One of my VIP clients caught wind of these this past month, and she instantly fell in love and insisted that we deck her entire closet out in them. I was hesitant to sign off on the idea initially, since I figured they would be slipperier than the white plastic guys. But a bit of in-person reconnaissance converted me: these hangers may have a sleek surface, but they also have a smartly designed profile that’s wide enough to prevent garments from slipping off onto the floor. #datingmyhangers.

 

Secret weapon product alert: this powder SPF is going to change how you think about sun protection.

5. This sunscreen, again.

I favorited this powder SPF once already back in this post. I’m all hot and bothered (though never burned!) about it again now that there is sunshine in Seattle. I cannot recommend it enough. Ten-fingers-emoji and whatnot.

 

What’s rocked your world in May that I should know about?? Please be a pal and share away.

4 Comments

  1. Nikki on May 30, 2017 at 6:13 am

    You are such a good writer

    • Annie on May 30, 2017 at 7:29 pm

      But you, Nikki, are such a good reader.

  2. City on May 30, 2017 at 3:09 pm

    I agree with Nikki!

    • Annie on May 30, 2017 at 7:48 pm

      Oh City. 😉

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4 Comments

  1. Nikki on May 30, 2017 at 6:13 am

    You are such a good writer

    • Annie on May 30, 2017 at 7:29 pm

      But you, Nikki, are such a good reader.

  2. City on May 30, 2017 at 3:09 pm

    I agree with Nikki!

    • Annie on May 30, 2017 at 7:48 pm

      Oh City. 😉

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