I’m just back from a weekend getaway in Miami (my old hometown).  Whenever my husband and I travel back to Miami, no matter what our plans or how busy our schedule, I always make sure we stop at the Container Store.

When we lived in Miami, The Container Store was about 2 miles from my house, and was conveniently on my direct route home from work, so I stopped by frequently.  Now that I live 4 hours from The Container Store™ it has become a place of worship, a place so sacred it is never missed when we’re in town, they way you would not miss the Vatican if visiting Rome.

Usually, I take a couple hours strolling the aisles there, breathing in the sweet scent of glass, cork, and plastic. I pick up the odd item for a client, but really, I’m just walking through with no checklist (for once), just wide, googly eyes and a little drop of drool in the corner of my mouth.

On this occasion, I actually had a purpose for pushing the shopping cart around.  My organizing business will have a booth in a Back-to-School Expo at the Convention Center this August, and I needed some items for display at said booth (or so was the excuse I gave myself for spending $300 on boxes, bins, bags, and varied containers).  See, friends?  Even organizers have moments of shopping weakness.  After all the lecturing I do about shopping with a list, and purchasing based on need vs. want, even I succumb to pretty displays and sale items.

Of course, I actually did need and will sell 95% of the items I bought, if not at the end of the Expo (when I no longer need them for booth display), then throughout the course of the year to my clients.  So I’m not that bad.  The items come in, and then they go out.  But before they go out, I will admire their sleek design, purposeful nature, and chic graphic prints.  Here’s a picture of me with all my Container Store loot.  If you could see behind my sunglasses, you’d see a twinkle in my eye.

I’m sorry this blog has absolutely no purpose other than for me to gush over my favorite place, work through my lingering Container Store contact high, and to make the admission that yes, I am a Container Store whore.

I recently got this email from a client:

Heather,

Today I am doing 15 minutes increments in the garage - working on one side.  My daughter is helping me put stuff on Craig’s list.  I am taking pictures of travel golf bags, strollers, dog carriers, etc.

What are your suggestions for organizing jewelry?  I have those little segregated trays but not a convenient place to put it.  I also thought about little zip-lock bags.

Also something to talk about is clean clothes.  I can get them washed but they are stacked up on different beds until I can get around to fold them.  And I HATE socks.  I hate to match them.  I thought about little laundry bags to put them in to wash - at least when they come out I would know that everything in that bag matched.  Any suggestions?

I am going to pick your brain and wear you out on Friday.  I am pumped - so be ready.  Thanks for your support.  –L

Her questions are ones that I’m certain have crossed some of your minds.  Here was my reply:

Just back from 11 glorious days in Trinidad & Tobago (actually 4 days in Trinidad, 7 days in Tobago).  Just wanted to post a couple pictures that inspired me while on my trip.  This first is this sign which was posted in the Piarco International Airport in Trinidad, W.I.:

I thought this sign could be applied at home, as well as at airports.  I will be telling my 6-year-old that “any toy left unattended or away from its proper home at the end of an evening will be confiscated or destroyed.” OK, maybe “destroyed” is a little strong, but at the very least, if not recycled or donated, it will be put in a 48-hour “toy timeout”.  If there are repeat offenders, THEY will be destroyed.  Mwahahaha (evil laugh).

My 3-year-old daughter’s shoes (left all over the house) fall into this category as well.

I also wrote briefly in my Pile High Club blog about the beautiful home we stayed at in Tobago (owned by my sister-in-law’s family).

The home was a simple 3/3, but what I really loved about it was how very little there was in the kitchen.  I have so many clients who battle with parting with their varied kitchen accessories (popcorn poppers, panini makers, toaster ovens, toasters, 81 kitchen utensils…) and I just loved the open shelving in this kitchen.  There were just enough plates, bowls and serving trays to entertain 12 people.  There were only 5 or so pots of different sizes and only enough silverware for 12.  Though there were several children at this home (ranging in age from 18 mos to 13 yrs old) there was no “kids cupboard” loaded with plastic plates, bowls, and bright colored sippy cups.  There were only 3 plastic cups.  THREE. And it worked out fine.  The kids made do with what they had.  Remarkable how little they needed.

Here’s the kitchen:

Sweet and simple.

Woo hoo!  Lovin’ this new blog.  Happy to be able to add pictures here.  For those who have their minds in the gutter, THE BIG O refers to… Organizing, of course!