Monday, June 29, 2009

We’re going on a trip. We’re going on a trip.

 

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And the winner of the Rubbermaid Produce Saver Prize Giveaway is…  Snaphappee (aka Elli).  Congratulations, Elli!!  Thanks for following all three steps in order to enter and win. 

This week we’re talking about organized travel.

I was at The Container Store this past week.  (Yes, it is THE Mecca for all OCD types… this fact has not escaped me.  I felt right at home there.  I’m not ashamed.)  And was impressed that they have an entire section devoted to organized travel!  I especially like the Eagle Creek line for vacation and summer camp packing (although I am not a fan of purple).  If anyone knows organized, it is The Container Store!

And why was I over 300 miles from home at my nearest Container Store?  Family vacation, of course!  Rates are low for travel this year.  The hotel industry is feeling the crunch of this (dare I say?) recession, which is good news for the traveler.  By now I know you have decided the basics for this summer.  Whether you are staycationing or vacationing, you know the: who, what, where, when and how of traveling. Who is going? (Is the pet going to be included?) What do you want to do? What local attractions have the best deals and pack in the most fun?  Are you going to take several small excursions, one large one, several large ones, or just have fun in your own backyard?  Where do you wish to travel? What dates work for everyone involved? How do you plan to get there (plane, train, automobile, cruise ship, bicycle)?

Let’s discuss packing… Yes there will be a list involved. We know I love my lists. And there are some great ones from List Mama at ListPlanIt  While packing for a trip for my family, it helps me to lay things out in outfits. I try to keep things mix and match and neutral. I do not lose sight of our destination plans. We do not need formal wear to visit a theme park, for example. We do need swim wear no matter what. Ah the joys of vacationing in the South! I also keep in mind that with a little one (or a messy counterpart!) we will need some extra “just in case” outfits. I have also come to realize that in all of the fun in the sun (and water and –dare I say?- sweat) that one outfit a day is not sufficient for any of us. And lastly, I realize that we are not likely to wear any one garment more than once. This does not make for light packing, but it does make for a prepared family. Onward!

I am familiar with the places we stay. When I am unfamiliar I call ahead to find out about amenities. Is there a hair dryer and a coffee pot available in the room? How about a fridge/freezer and a microwave? Does the cabin have its own linens or do we need to pack? (Yep I’ve been on the “What do you mean we were supposed to bring our own sheets and towels?” vacation. It was not pretty.) Does “crib availability” mean that they have actual portable-cribs available? Or will they be bringing up an ancient-death-trap pack and play? These are all pertinent things to find out BEFORE packing.  Also note that there are varying definitions of the word “suite” when booking a hotel.  Some may mean separate sleeping and living quarters.  Some may mean one large room with a a pull out sofa bed.  In some cases we have actually gotten a FULL kitchen.  “Breakfast Included” can also be a misleading term.  Is it a breakfast of Little Debbie’s or a hot breakfast bar fit for a king, complete with eggs and waffles?  These are all good things to know!  (please note:  I am not knocking the nutritional or yummification of a breakfast of Oatmeal Cream Pies.  I am just saying it is good to know ahead of time.)

Call the attractions and make sure they are open when you are planning to be there. It would be a shame to plan to go to a certain museum on Monday only to find out that they are only open Wednesday through Saturday. Finding their website is an ok alternative, BUT if it is not current or does not list special events then the phone call may be worth it. This will help you build a specific itinerary.  We actually just ventured through the largest aquarium ever in Atlanta recently.  When you purchase your tickets ahead of time online, you are required to choose the TIME that you wish to visit.  We weren’t rushed through by staff or given a time limit on our visit, but we did have to be there for our particular time slot.   

Now it’s your turn.  Share with me seasoned travelers.  What are your tidbits of fun for organized travel?

 

 

 

If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com  You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie.  Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi. 

 

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Still wishing that it was all made like Rubbermaid?

I can honestly tell you that I have had two recent incidents with my vehicle (and my sweet husband’s vehicle) that make me wish our fenders were made of Rubbermaid.  Can we get someone on that? 

This week I will be reviewing the Rubbermaid Premier Finish and Lock-Its varieties of food storage containers.  Stay tuned at the end to find out how you can WIN some Rubbermaid of your very own.

Premier: 

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I tried to stain these.  Really I did.  I couldn’t do it.  Even dried on cooked on BBQ sauce RINSED right off for me.  No scrubbing or pressure washing needed!  I’ve been skeptical of the claims of this product in the past, but no more.  I am in love with these Premier containers.  Thank you Rubbermaid!!  They really are “Easy seal.  Easy clean.  Easy store.”!  The lids do that neat “snap on thing” just like the easy find lids on other containers so that you can always find the lid!  And although they are very clearly see-through, they are durable, not thin.  Have I mentioned that I am impressed?

Lock-its Food Storage Containers: 

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Our test kitchen was particularly rough on these containers.  They are a favorite of my 4-year old.  The locks kept him entertained for a few minutes.  Very puzzle like for tots, apparently.  Note:  this is in no way a child proof product!  Once again these have the easy find system for lids.  In addition, this product has a rubber seal around the lid.  We could not make these leak… even with all four “locks” unlocked.  We had fun trying!!! 

Do any of you have experience with these wonder products?  Tell me what you love and hate about them.  Which leads us to… how to win Rubbermaid of your own…
#1 - Comment on this post.  
#2 - Comment on last week’s post if you haven’t already.  You can find last week’s post here
#3 -  Subscribe to the RSS feed by clicking the RSS button on this Clutter Crusaders Chronicles page.

Now your mission is accomplished and your name will be put into the hat for a drawing for two of your very own brand new  Produce Savers like those in last week review (and pictured below). 

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Entries will be closed Wed at 11:59 pm Eastern.  Come back next Sunday to see if you have won!  If you have won, I will collect your mailing address via email at that time, so DO NOT forget to check back.  (The RSS feed should serve as a good reminder to you.)

Looking for a good deal on Rubbermaid in your area?  Check out rubbermaid.com for coupons you can print and use!  Want the chance to win even more Rubbermaid products?  or possibly a $500 kitchen makeover?  Check out their site, learn how to share your story, and follow them on Facebook!

 

Do you need more reasons to subscribe or to check back next week???  
You do not want to miss organized SUMMER TRAVEL!!!

(If you missed Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom this week, I do apologize and will have that feature running again very soon.)

 

If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com  You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie.  Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi. 

 

, Happy Father’s Day!!!!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Don’t you wish everything was made like…

Rubbermaid!

I haven’t blogged much about the wonderfulness of the NAPO 2009 Conference I attended last April.  Let me tell you, it was inspiring!!  There was also an expo hall filled with goodies from wonderful NAPO sponsors and partners.  For the next two weeks, I will be blogging about some products provided by the nice folks at Rubbermaid.

Oh, and before I forget… Rubbermaid is offering lots of fun things on their site, including tips, ideas, new products, $1 OFF COUPON and contests to WIN prizes.  Check it out here!

On with my reviews…

Easy find lids:

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I LOVE this product!  (Thank you Rubbermaid!!!!)

This is THE go to in plastic-ware.  These are sturdy.  They stack inside each other nicely AND can be removed from their nesting with ONE hand.  The lids snap together so that you aren’t fumbling in the bottom of a cabinet for a lid.  The lids snap to the bottom of the container of the same size.  Good seals with no spills!  I have been using these for my son’s snacks and for general food storage for many many months now and have been pleased with how well they have withstood our tough kitchen test.  Freezer, fridge, pantry, backpack, car, dishwasher – This one is a survivor!
Five out of Five Stars from me!

 

Produce Saver:

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This product works great for keeping fresh fruits like grapes and strawberries fresh a little bit longer than a standard container or their original packaging.  Honestly, I think I buy salad greens when they are on their last legs.  The produce saver didn’t really save my salad, but I don’t know that the salad ever has much of a chance to begin with.  I do love that the container, lid, and grate insert thingy are all dishwasher safe.
Four out of Five stars from me!  (because I still can’t reconcile the salad issue)

 

Have you tried either of these products?  What is your opinion?  Did you find this review helpful?

More Rubbermaid product reviews next week.  Hmmmm… Does anyone know what that might mean for a lucky blog commenter this month?  If you don’t want to miss out on any fun summer giveaways, make sure to subscribe via RSS feed and then LEAVE A COMMENT in each week’s blog.  Also join our fun fan page on Facebook!!

Stay tuned as we head into the heart of Summer and gear up for Summer travel!  You’ll even have a chance to submit your questions, tips and tricks! 

 

 

If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com  You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie.  Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi. 

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom

We hit the sunny beaches where we occupy ourselves keeping the sun off our skin, the saltwater off our bodies, and the sand out of our belongings.

~Erma Bombeck 

 

Enjoy your travels this summer – Wherever they may take you!  ~J

Sunday, June 7, 2009

First Summer Give Away – Rubbermaid Easy Find

Lots of links in this week’s blog!!!

Elli, Thanks for your comment last week.  I don’t know if you noticed, but one of last week’s tags was “give away” so you will be receiving a set of Rubbermaid with easy find lids to try out.  I’ll be blogging about my experience with this product and other Rubbermaid products soon.  And I may even be giving more away… hint hint.  Summer is an especially fun time for giveaways!  Why is that?  Is it that school is out or the heat makes us giddy or that we just like to share the love?  I like to think it is a little bit of everything.

In the mean time, if any of you would like to have a coupon to print out on your very own printer for savings on Rubbermaid, try this link:

http://www.easyfindlids.com/rubbermaid-coupons.aspx

 

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If you are in the Jacksonville/St. Johns area and would like your home better organized, and would like the assistance of a professional organizer, e-mail juliebavi@gmail.com  You can also find me on Facebook by clicking HERE or searching for Organize With Julie.  Want to follow me on twitter? Find me @juliebavi. 

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Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom

Out of clutter, find simplicity.

From discord, find harmony.

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.

~Albert Einstein