From The Live Simply Labs: Three by Three Seattle’s Mighties Magnets

I recently had the opportunity to review a few products by the company Three by Three Seattle, an endeavor which once again proved that old adage true: good things come in small packages. The star of the show was a not-even-palm-size plastic envelope containing eight not-even-pea-sized silver magnets. Three by Three calls these studs “mighties,” and promises that they are “amazingly strong magnets. Unbelievably powerful! …and yet so small” (1/4 inch diameter small, to be exact).

Amazingly strong? Unbelievably powerful? I’m pretty small and definitely mighty, so I’m familiar with the idea of those two features co-existing. Nevertheless, I had my doubts.

So I got busy investigating whether the mighties could really hold their weight. Business cards seemed the obvious choice (because they happened to be next to me on the desk) and so began the titillating and also tedious process of adding card after card to reveal the point at which the mighties would cry ‘mercy.’

In the end, after many cheers from me and bored sighs from onlookers, the mighties magnetics triumphed over 7.5 cards. I say 7.5 because they really did hold 8, but it wasn’t a firm hold. There was some slight slippage downwards, or so said the judges. But 7 were held so solidly that the mighties seemed deserving of an additional half point. “Unbelievably powerful!” I shrieked in delight.

While 7.5 business cards may not sound like all that many, we must take into account the thickness of the cardstock, the impressively minimal size of the magnets, and the fact that most massive magnets can barely hold up a flimsy ass grocery store receipt without slipping down into the freezer.

The side view more accurately portrays the thickness through which the magnetic forces of the mighties permeated. That’s pretty thick!

Here’s where I started to get impressed. Cards, shmards, I thought. Let’s stop messing around and give this little nugget-magnet a real challenge. So the keys where brought in. And guess what? The mighties magic magnet fairies latched onto that key ring with the force of the universe I tell you.

Zero slippage downage whatsoever. Those keys weren’t going anywhere.

You know how eight-year-olds always pass around that fact about how ants are so strong they could pick up a car? Did that urban legend only exist in my childhood? Well, anyhow, the metaphor applies here because those mighties were the ants, and those keys, the car. Boom. Lifted. Just picture that; a Honda pilot being moved across the street by an unseen brigade of black ants.

Scoop your mighties up here and try to stop thinking about bugs now cause they’re gross.

A Drawer Divided: Modular Units Vs. All-In-One Dividers

Today on Live Simply it’s a stand-off of epic proportions, and to those who care naught about drawers and their divisions, the most negligible debate of all time: modular units vs. all-in-one dividers. To ensure your endorsement of either candidate is an informed one, I shall now flush out these opponent’s multifarious attributes.

Modular Units

Pros:

– Customization. Its greatest feature going for it. Customize the way in which you arrange them in your drawer, and the actual pod style/shape/size that you use.

– No imposed constraints, i.e. no need to fill a foot-long segment with the only thing you have left to organize: your thumbtacks (see above: customization).

– The thrill of piecing together your own modular puzzle.

– The knowledge that your drawer probably won’t look the same as “everyone” else’s. Poo on them, everyone.

Cons:

– Since modular-puzzling is an un-evolved talent, many lack the expertise needed to properly arrange singular pods, therefore being left with left over room, therefore causing the units to constantly shift around in the drawer, therefore defeating the purpose of drawer organizers entirely, the purpose of which is to keep shit in place.

– That’s really the big one, though I’m open to entertaining others if you care to rant and lament.

Image credits: IHeart Organizing, The Container Store, Sur La Table, The Container Store, Cupcakes and Cashmere, The Container Store, Organize.com, The Container Store

All-In-One Organizers

Pros:

– Takes the guesswork out of arranging segments.

– Fits solidly in your drawer, as long as you’ve had the foresight to measure said drawer to ensure your organizer will fit.

– Can be easily removed and replaced for cleaning.

Cons:

– Lack of customization (see above, again).

– That’s all on that one, as far as I can see.

Image credits: Backyard Gardener, Brooklyn Limestone, House Beautiful, Real Simple, Organize-It

And now the time has come, the walrus said, to cast your vote; will it be the modular or the all-in-one? What’s your preference, speak!

Note: I am so tired right now, and my weirdness filter is INactive. Enjoy.

Live Simply All-Star: Cleaning Wipes

Today, little foxes, the subject at hand is one most near and dear to my heart, and before you try to guess, no, it isn’t Trader Joes or the color white or seltzer water. It’s cleaning wipes.

Lest you think that I have seriously hit a roadblock in postulating posting topics, I shall herein attempt to articulate why cleaning wipes are in fact the furthest thing from blogging fodder, and much more like first-class passengers on the Live Simply express.

Many have argued that two-in-one products are the way of the future, or at least, the bee’s knees, and while I cannot comment on that BB cream (which I guess technically speaking is really more like a 7-in-1 product or something who cares), I can readily get behind their claim in the cleaning aisle.

Let’s compare the opponents:

Standing in one corner of the ring you have your time-honored roll of paper towel and arsenal of spray or spout or gloop cleaning products. This method is effective, albeit more involved: spray, spray, spray, unroll, unroll, unroll, rip, wipe, wipe, wipe, repeat.

And now to the champion, weighing in at just… whatever a cleaning wipe weighs, the mix-master, his speciality move being a hybrid attack of towel and cleanser: The Great Wipe.

Okay, so what in the hell am I really saying here?

Cleaning wipes make the job way easier. I, for one, am far more apt to (frequently) reach for a wipe to do a little countertop touch up than I am to go to the kitchen, get some paper towel, grab the spray bottle, and clean that way.

If you haven’t introduced cleaning wipes into your life, it is high time you did so. With so many brands making them now, from the all-natural lands of J.R. Watkins and Seventh Generation, to the classic shores of Clorox, you’re sure to find one that fits your lifestyle. I swear your world will tilt just slightly towards the direction of paradise, or like, your house will be probably look a little cleaner. {note: research seems to suggest that to maximize bacteria removal you should avoid using one wipe on multiple surfaces. Switch wipe when you switch surfaces if you’re focused on the germs.}

I have been loyally repurchasing the Clorox and Lysol (they seem interchangeable to me) Disinfecting Wipes for many years now, and they have yet to disappoint. [Except for the green kind which smell absolutely wretched. Stick to the yellow if you know what’s good for you.]

I have also heard tell that other stand-outs in the cleaning wipe category include Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Surface Wipes (biodegradable and chemical free), Scott’s Liquid Gold Dust n’ Go Wipes, Blue Magic Glass Wipes, Method Tub-n-Tile Flushable Bathroom Wipes, and Pledge Multi-Surface Wipes.

If any of you have test driven the aforementioned wipes, please do chime in and share your thoughts.

In closing: I sometimes (often) watch youtube videos by beauty bloggers who inevitably must answer the question, “If you were stranded on a deserted island, which one makeup product would you want with you?” You better believe that in the cleaning version of that scenario, I would be answering wipes every time, that my days spent as a cast-away would consist of me scrubbing at the sandy beaches with my trusty Lysol wipes, but man would that island shine!

What’s Old is New Again: Repurposed Projects

Happy Friday tootsie pops!

Today I shall send you off into the weekend by igniting your vast imaginations. How, you ask, will I attempt such a feat? By presenting you with a few of the cleverest repurposing projects to grace the interwebs, that’s how.

Yes, perhaps on a Tuesday these IKEA bookcases would appear to you as IKEA bookcases, but with your weekend-wings you will soon discover that, turned on their side, and outfitted with matching baskets, these are actually under-bench-toy-storage for your youngins- hello!

Here’s a little DIY decor math for you:

1 dresser – 8 legs + 1 long cushion + some throw pillows = a fabulous window seat/ bench with storage to boot! Hi there!

I’m so good at math.

Moving along- and this has got to be one of my favorites- a mannequin with shelves to house your (ridiculously preppy) belts and ties.

I, personally, think that bathroom and office accessories can often be interchangeable, which is why this toothbrush holder so naturally accommodates pens and pencils, and soap dish, little notecards.

Okay. Ya take some dumb old crates. Ya slap some wheels on the bottom. And– Ta-dah! You’ve got yourself some dope mobile toy storage.

Again with the crates, but this time, faux shelves in the bathroom. Easy peasy.

This here image looks like your typical bar cart. And that’s cool. Except I happen to know that this here bar cart was once a baby’s changing table. Whoa, bet I just blew your mind with that one, huh?

Of course we can always count on Martha to come through for us, and come through she did; Benches. Stacked. Become shelves. Bam!

These last two images just go to show that you don’t have to get yourself down over a lack of island. Lest we forget, a kitchen island is really just an additional surface. So, if you add an object with a surface, you’ll have an island. I feel like this whole post has been composed of story problems, repurpose style.

Dresser/ island:

Old candy-making table/ island:

You may now put on your weekend googles and begin to view the world in a whole new way.

IHeart Organizing, BHG, New England Home, BHG, Home Made Simple x2, BHG, Martha Stewart, BHG, Sunset

Live Simply All-Star: Kitchen Cabinet Stacking Shelves

You all want to achieve the maximum amount of storage space possible in your homes. I know this. And there is nothing more frustrating than the feeling that you’re vastly underutilizing said space.

Enter: elevated shelf organizers.

Now, as far as I can tell, there doesn’t seem to be a consistent name for these across the board. The poor things are poorly identified by retailers, marketed from a wide range of vague and unhelpful titles including but not limited to: “cabinet shelves,” “kitchen counter shelves,” “rectangle shelf,” “corner shelf,” “pantry shelf,” “corner pantry shelf,” “cupboard shelf,” and sometimes all of those from one store.

This matter concerns me because I just don’t feel right about sending you out into the world on the hunt for “rectangle shelves.” If you asked me for one of those, I would probably send you to the plywood aisle of Home Depot.

The point is that they are shelves that you put on shelves to double your shelf space. So maybe that’s just hard to put into a name. Nonetheless, they are brilliant.

They’re hugely helpful at providing you with twice the amount of cup, bowl and plate-stacking space as evinced by the photos below:

And can work equal bi-wonders in the pantry:

You could even, if you felt so compelled, use one of these out on the counter.

And while we’ve opened up that world of possibility, we might as well go ahead and admit that these would work most any place where you want to put stuff. So, like, everywhere.

Go ahead. Stack away!

And while you’re at it, leave a comment pitching us on what in the hell you think these should be called. Live Simply snaps for the best name. World domination to follow.

Image credits: Folding Mesh Stacking Shelf, Expandable Kitchen Counter Shelf, Corner Kitchen Cabinet Organizer, Martha Stewart x2, Expandable  Kitchen Counter Shelf x2

Live Simply All-Star: Emergency Kits by Ms. & Mrs.

My dearest sissy gifted me with a Shemergency kit quite a while ago. Whilst packing for a cross-country jaunt recently, I decided it was high time to put it to the test. Bonjour, best decision ever!

Let me get you up to speed. The Shemergency kit is the brainchild of the company Ms. & Mrs. The owners are two sisters (the Ms.’) and one mama (the Mrs.). Though they all have separate career pursuits, they channeled their talents to create kits for just about every modern emergency.

Now back to me. Away from home, without my bevy of beauty necessities, I was beside myself (not really but stay with me). I had painted my nails pre-flight, and naturally, upon landing, they had already begun to chip.

“If only I had brought some nail polish remover!” I thought to myself. But wait! Hark! Do you hear the siren call of the Shemergency? One nail polish remover pad at your service, please and thank you. Handled. Next.

The days go by and those same nails start to get a bit scraggly. “A nail file would really fit the bill right about now.” Hold up! She’s got me! two mini nail files, kaboom!

And on and on. In total, the Shemergency kit contains 25 (25!) must-haves: Folding Hair Brush with Mirror, Hair Spray, Clear Elastics, Earring Backs, Hand Lotion, Nail Clipper, Emery Board, Clear Nail Polish, Nail Polish Remover, Mending Kit, Safety Pin, Double-Sided Tape, Lint Remover, Shoe Shine Towelettes, Stain Remover, Static Remover, Breath Freshener, Lip Balm, Dental Floss, Pain Reliever, Deodorant Towelettes, Tampon, Adhesive Bandages, Facial Tissues, and Blotting Tissues.

If you want a slightly more condensed, even more delightfully pocket-sized version, opt for the minimergency kit. Though it fits in the palm of your hand, it contains no less than 16 essentials.

But wait! There’s more! Because the Ms.’ & Mrs. don’t just make kits for she (me). They also have a kit for moms, which includes towelettes, thermometer, mini crayon set, and mini playing cards, among other things, a labor and delivery kit, and a working girls survival kit.

But now I’m about to blow your mind: these ladies also make kits for the boys! Enter: Hemergency kit.

Hello, Hair Comb, Dental Floss, Breath Freshener, Lip Balm, Deodorant Wipes, Nail Clipper, Mending Kit, Safety Pin, Extra Buttons, Lint Remover, Static Remover, Shoe Shine Towelettes, Stain Remover, Wrinkle Remover, Pain Reliever, Adhesive Bandages, Facial Tissues, Razor, Shaving Cream, Styptic Pencil, Toothpaste, and Toothbrush. Also available in mini form:

For those of you with wedding fever Ms. & Mrs. has got you covered; kits for brides, grooms, bridesmaids, groomsmen.

And for those little ingenues ivy-bound: a college survival kit and a dorm survival kit.

Now I guess in all fairness you could assemble said kit yourself. But the truth is that you’ve had around your whole life to do so and probably haven’t. And also, why would you when these exist?

Give them as gifts, buy one for yourself.

Winner.

Winner.

Chicken.

Dinner.

And I’m a vegetarian.

*No compensation was received for this post. The admiration is genuine, ladies and gentleman.

Live Simply All-Star: 360 Electrical Powercurve Mobile Surge Protector-UPDATE

A couple weeks ago, I awarded the Powercurve Mobile Surge Protector by 360 Electrical LS All-Star status. And I did so before actually testing the product out myself. And I apologize for that. I can now tell you that I know–firsthand–the truth about this gadget. Here’s how it all went down:

When the geniuses at 360 Electrical caught wind of my rave, they generously offered to send me said surge gratis. Test drive the Powercurve? I jumped at the chance. I did it for you, of course, dear readers, not me, no ho. Within a hop, skip, and a electrical outlet later, I received a 360 package with not one, but two of their creations (excuse the poor photo quality– snapped on my iPhone):

For the sake of consistency, we’ll stay focused on the Powercurve. Let’s begin with the packaging, shall we? As you can see, it’s packaged in that incredibly sharp and unbreakable plastic that requires a no less than 10 minute wrestling match with a pair of machete pliers to pry it open. I don’t know about you all, but I’ve endured many a serious finger wound from such struggles. So I was a little less than thrilled to try my hands at opening this one.

Except the guys at 360 had already thought of that. I can’t tell you how elated I was when, upon flipping the product over, I discovered a perforated edge right along the actual product. That is a detail I appreciate. I retrieved the protector from its plastic mausoleum with the very greatest of ease!

Onto the actual product– it’s smaller than I imagined it to be, (which is great) fitting almost inside my palm.

As promised, the plug in the back folds away (super travel friendly).

I expected the fully rotating AC outlets to just loosely careen around, but in fact, they’re much more stubborn than that. You can’t just turn them with your hands or fingers. However, the second you plug something in, all you have to do is twist to hear the sweet little clicks of customization as the outlets rotate to any angle that your heart should desire. I went on a little hunting expedition through my house to find my most bulky plugs and guess what? The Powercurve handled ’em both like it was nothing.

No finagling, no struggle, just click-turn to the right angle and boom! Hello! I went ahead and plugged my phone into the USB socket while I was at it. Then, onto one of my favorite features, I grabbed my friend’s phone, and sat it right on top:

No teeter-tottering, no balancing act, just an at-your-service phone dock.

All in all, I’d say the Powercurve entirely lives up to the hype I prematurely (albeit fairly correctly) awarded it.

Oh, and one last thing: as if the 360 team hadn’t won me over enough with their generosity and their total ingenuity, they had to throw some humor at me as well. Observe, if you will, a page out of their instruction booklet:

I will just go on record as saying I have NEVER seen an instruction booklet with comic relief. It’s the little things, you know?

If you’re interested, you can procure the Powercurve Mobile at all Staples stores, select Lowes and Sam’s Clubs, and, beginning next month, from Home Depot as part of a special promotion.

Toodahlooooo!

Live Simply All-Star: 360 Electrical Powercurve Mobile Surge Protector

Okay, so full disclosure: unlike all the other all-star picks which have been tried and tested by yours truly, I have not actually used today’s feature. There, so now I said it and there are no secrets between us. However, when I discovered it online, I was so convinced of its Live Simply All-Star-edness, that I just had to share it with all of you.

Alright, melons, here it is, the 360 Electrical Powercurve Mobile Surge Protector:

Now I know you’re thinking, “Well Annie, that looks like a surge protector like any other.” To which I would respond “Oh ho, but this is a surge protector like no other!” Allow me to break this surge-tastic little devil down for you.

1. Let’s talk about the two AC outlets which rotate 360°. Hello answer to all those clunky plugs that usually obstruct an additional three outlets other than the one they’re actually plugged into! Simply swivel the outlets to masterfully situate two giant clunkers with ease. Boom. Onward.

2. Let’s go ahead and address the two glorious USB sockets. Hi there charged iPhone/ iPad/ iPod/ Smartphones/ E-readers! Wam, bam. Want more, you say?

3. Warm yourself to the sexy glow of the two lights on this gizmo- one to tell you if your device is grounded, and another that ensures you that your surge protector is, in fact, protecting.

But we’re not done yet. Oh, no.

4. Let’s discuss the fact that this bad boy is also a mobile pro. Its fold and travel plug makes it a travel pro. Fold in plug, stow, and go. Hi-yah!

5. We’d have to also touch on the fact that the design is a perfectly suitable dock for your iPhone as it charges. Lay that baby right on top. Yup. You can.

Want more?

– 918 Joules of advanced surge protection

– $100,000 connected equipment warranty

And all for just around $20.00? I mean, come on. I’m sold.

You can pick up the Powercurve Mobile at all Staples stores, select Lowes and Sam’s Clubs, and, beginning next month, from Home Depot as part of a special promotion.

Use it at home to plug in your hair dryer, your curling iron and your iPhone all at once, and then smile at your own cunning genius in deciding to buy such a multi-tasking knockout. Or use it at the airport to charge your computer, your phone, and your everything else all at once, and to make everyone else around incredibly jealous of your juiced-up status.

The perfect answer to our entirely over-electronicized lives? Yes it is!

Yeah, that’s right, I said electronicized. Whachyu gonna bout it?

Annie out.

Drawerdecor Giveaway!

Allow me to introduce to you drawerdecor. The brain child of Sir Keith Nielson, drawerdecor is a crazy innovative product that permanently solves the issue of chaotic and unorganized kitchen drawers.

Drawerdecor is a sleek and totally customizable product that provides your utensils with a non-slip, grip mat on which to sit. You can configure things as you wish, and then rely on drawerdecor to keep them in place, despite the constant sliding and jostling that happens when the drawer is opened or closed. While the product is branded as a kitchen drawer organizer, I could easily see it being used for bathroom drawers, office drawers…any drawers really. Drawerdecor has been featured in Instyle Magazine, Dwell Magazine, and is featured in the June issue of Real Simple, on newsstands now.

Watch the video to see this bad boy in action:

The best part? The genius creator behind this product has generously offered up a drawerdecor to one of my lucky readers- in the color of your choice. That’s right, you heard me, drawerdecor, could be yours.

Here’s the fine print:

– To enter, visit drawerdecor’s website and  leave a comment on this post telling us what color you would choose. Be sure to include your email address/ twitter handle.

For additional entries (make sure to leave a comment for each additional entry, and provide a link to your pin/tweet):

1. Tweet about this giveaway. You can copy and paste this as your tweet:

I just entered to win a @drawerdecor organizer via @livesimply at http://tinyurl.com/6mreaxn

2. Follow me on twitter @livesimply

3. Pin this giveaway on Pinterest

Winner will be selected next Saturday (5/19) and will be announced right here, so be sure to check back. He or she will have 48 hours to claim their prize.

Good luck little birdies!

Live Simply All-Star: Drawer Dividers

Perhaps it should go without saying (being that nearly every organizing lesson here has featured them) but here I am, about to say it anyway. It is my blog, after all.

K, so here’s the deal: drawer dividers are the shiznit. Seriously. Drawers are inherently very difficult to keep organized. They are both vast and undefined space, and the contents inside are constantly being jostled around as you slide the drawer open and closed. Dividers are the easiest, sure-fire way to ensure that all the drawers in your home stay organized. And it turns out all those little drawers really do affect the overall feeling of organization in a space.

These are a god send in the bathroom for small tools, cosmetics and makeup, in the kitchen for those pesky utensils, In the junk drawer for all those miscellaneous whatnots, in the office for all those office supplies, and on and on. See for yourselves:

Want further proof? Drawer dividers have also cropped up in my posts related to organizing:

– Nail Polish

– Makeup

– The Hunk Drawer

– The sock drawer

– Jewelry

– And most likely many, many more to come.

K, thanks so much for reading! Like you so much!

Image credits: California Closets, Style’N, Vogue, Real Simple, BHG, Fresh Juice, Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, Good Housekeeping, IKEA