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When it comes to fall decor, we’re both pretty minimal. We love items that be used for multiple holidays and repurposed for other uses throughout the year. That’s why we love this vintage-looking wine bottle vase. Put some fall sprigs and twigs in it as part of an arrangement for fall and put some berry branches in it in December. The possibilities are endless!
So many of our clients store their fall and winter sweaters stacked on shelves. It’s a great solution for these sometimes bulky items that can take up a lot of space. One issue with the stacks is that they can get jumbled and look messy. Enter one of our favorite products: the shelf divider! We love this simple one that will keep you stacks in check and looking tidy.
With all of the baking many of us do this time of year, it’s a good idea to invest in a sturdy, safe container for storing your treats! We love these glass containers that are easy to store and stack and can we used for just about anything. No need to worry about the plastic breaking down and leaching into your food. And this goes right in the dishwasher!
4) Our fall schedules have been crazier than ever. Katherine has started keeping track of her schedule and to-dos on a very simple pad like this one. It’s not too complicated or intense, but it’s nice to see everything plotted out in one place. For us visual organizers, it’s really helps!
It’s that time of year again! It’s Amazon Prime Day(s)! Neatnik has a few products to recommend. Check them out and let us know how they work for you!
We use sturdy metal shelves like these all the time for our clients. They work beautifully in a garage, utility rooms, sheds, or other storage spaces. They’re durable, don’t rust, and won’t break. You can store so many bins and boxes on them and stack things in endless configurations. You will always use these shelves!
Neatnik sees a lot of gift wrap situations and many of them are not in good shape. You have so many different types of products – rolls of wrap, gift bags, ribbons, etc. – and it can be challenging to keep them in order. For most people, a simple, inexpensive gift wrap organizer is all that’s needed to solve this problem. It can be hung in a closet or somewhere close to where you wrap your gifts. We highly recommend!
Water bottle storage seems to be a problem in every kitchen. They’re big, not a uniform size, often have lot of parts, and tip over easily. It hard to find a perfect solution. We have found these water bottle racks work very well in pantries and kitchen cabinets. Give them a try and let us know if they work in your space!
Where to begin with these hangers? They allow you to hang more in your closet, fit everything and help you achieve a uniform, sleek look. Everyone needs these hangers in their lives. And they come in different colors and metal finishes. What more could you ask for?
We love these little stackable containers for all the little bibs and bobs. These are great for craft supplies, toys, sewing supplies, small items in a linen closet or medicine cabinet, etc. And the clear acrylic is perfect for you to always see what you have.
The turntable organizer is a game changer for people with deep cabinets and shelves. Gone are the days when you forgot a bottle of vinegar in the back of the cabinet – put all your bottles on the turntable and always be able to see exactly what you have!
This caddy is perfect for craft supplies or other collections of items around the house. It looks nice on a shelf or can be moved around to use where needed. It has a sturdy handle so it’s perfect for kids. During these dog days of distance learning, it’s nice to have a place for all of the supplies to easily get put away!
Nicole had a great column in the Washington Post this week about a technique we’ve developed at Neatnik called the Quarantine Reset. We started talking about it in relation to the highs and lows of the quarantine lifestyle. Some days are productive and positive, some days feel overwhelming and totally unmotivated. While it’s important to listen to your body and take care of yourself when it’s needed, we felt like there were times when we just needed to “turn the page.” And since every. single, day, is just like the last and just like the next, waiting for a natural new beginning like “tomorrow” just wasn’t cutting it. We needed something that could make us feel renewed and give us what I call “Period. New Page. New Paragraph.”
From everyone I’ve talked to over the past few weeks, we’ve all had these moments: we’ve read or watched too much depressing news, we feel like there is no end in sight, our kids or families are driving us crazy leaving us feeling overwhelmed and stuck. The Quaratine Reset is a set of action steps to be taken at any time to help you feel “unstuck,” renewed, and like you’ve turned the page. These steps have been reviewed and vetted by mental health professionals and are backed by studies that show their efficacy. The entire reset shouldn’t take more than about 30 minutes and are designed to be easy and elevating, but without taking a huge amount of energy or time.
Here are the five steps:
Take a shower and wash your hair. Finish the shower by turning the water all the way to cold, and stand under the cold water for at least a few seconds. The cold water produces a host of positive physical responses, including increased production of endorphins and norepinephrine in your brain and a boost to your immune system.
Get out of the old sweats and put on some clean clothes. Or try to put actual pants and a casual shirt! If you normally wear make-up, consider applying some lipstick. As Audrey Hepburn once said “On a bad day, there’s always lipstick.”
Making your bed marks a new beginning. Doing this small task not only helps to create a calmer and cleaner bedroom environment, but it also marks one easy accomplishment and sets the tone for you to feel like you can check other things off your list.
Set a timer and spend 10 minutes cleaning up, putting things away, and decluttering. You can get a lot done in 10 minutes, and tidying will make you feel more relaxed once you’re in a less messy environment. Nicole and I always say “inner order = outer calm” and it really is true. The clutter makes you feel unconsciously stressed – it’s a lot of unmade decisions staring you in the face. Focus on tasks that can be completed quickly, such as going through your mail, recycling old newspapers and magazines, cleaning off a counter or throwing in a load of laundry.
Stepping outside to take a few deep breaths of fresh air can make us feel renewed, and sun on our skin helps our bodies produce vitamin D, which has numerous brain and mental health benefits. And according to the American Heart Association website, a study shows that “nature presents scenes that gently capture your attention instead of suddenly snatching it, calming your nerves instead of frazzling them.”
With so much out of control, the Quarantine Reset provides intentional steps to change your mind-set and change the tone of your day. It gives you a way to focus on your mental health in a way that we hope feels realistic and manageable. Please let us know how it works for you – or if you have steps you like to add for your reset!
Many thanks to @homesweethomenz for use of the fabulous photo!
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