OrganizingLA Blog

A Reader Wood Crately Appreciate Some Advise on Wine Storage Crates

"I am looking to find a good number of wine crates to use for creative displays, organization, shipping, etc. and I was wondering if you knew of any great places in Los Angeles that would donate them, or let me take them off their hands.  Any information would be greatly appreciated.  Signed, "Kevin Looking for Crates""

Hi Kevin-- Okay, time to stop wining (we just had to say that).  Any crates (wine or whatever) you snag will probably be unfinished or even raw-- made of pine.  I wonder of the quality?  Make sure they're clean, too.

In terms of searching them out locally, in Los Angeles, I would try an upscale wine store, like Greenblatt's Deli, Du Vin on San Vicente/Melrose, Wally's on Westwood, or even Silverlake Wine, owned by Campanile's wine team.  Some of these locations are upscale, approach accordingly. If they don't have any, I would politely inquire if they have any suggestions--- seeing that this is their line of work.

You could also try some wine "warehouses" in LA-- you may have better luck than the smaller stores.  Try the Wine House on Cotner and the Los Angeles Wine Company.

There is a fantastic wine expert at the Ralph's on Wilshire in West LA/Santa Monica, just west of Bundy (north side of street). I purchased 50 bottles of champagne from him last Christmas.  He runs the department and according to him, their Ralph's location is the # 1 location for wine and champagne sales in West LA. Reason I bring this up is that he is very helpful, and while I don't think Ralph's uses wooden crates, he may have some ideas because of his training and resourcefulness.

I would also do a posting for "wanted" on Craigslist or Freecycle.  I have seen some wooden crates used as display pieces at Cost Plus at the Grove.  And finally, I personally discovered some neat crates at a local swap meet, too. I cut them in 1/2, white-washed both sides, and they're now used as beach-inspired wall-mounted shelving in a bathroom.

If timing is tight, perhaps you should just go buy them?

Related Post:

• A new way to track liquid assets.
• Wood organizing products.

Electrical Outlet Located in Siberia? No Problem. Use This Simple Product To Charge Your Phone

The other day a friend of ours was locking up the beach house, closing the blinds, and unplugged their phone charger (as well as picking up the phone off the floor.)

We didnt' really say anything, but that one of those A-HA moments that makes us think.  It's always so frustrating to find a convenient, consistent spot to plug your phone-in.  After all, consistency is what make organization possible.  Find a place for everything, and put it back, right?  Sure.

So we were checking-in on one of our fav sites, Little House In The City, and found this (via Core 77) totally cool, very usable cord storage/plug-in thing for your cel phone.

The flocked tray actually sits on the wall, so your phone/iPod doesn't sit on the floor.  Solves a lot of problems, and we can't wait to try it out.

Unfortunately, it doesn't come in blue to match the beach house.

ASID-Los Angeles Re-Introduces "Spruce It Up!"

Great design is thoroughly enhanced by organization.  The two work hand-in-hand.  Don't you agree?

In the course of our work day, we occasionally give (and receive) referrals to/from Los Angeles-area Interior Designers.  We rely on their special training and expertise.  We organize, they interior design.

The June issue of LA Magazine announces Spruce It Up! Sponsored by The LA-Chapter of ASID.

Spruce It Up! provides consumers the opportunity to consult with an interior designer for an hour or two at an introductory rate. The ASID-led consultations can be used to obtain an expert's opinion on a wide variety of interior design concerns for both the home and office, such as space planning, furniture placement, evaluation of current furnishings to prioritize future purchases, and paint selection.

Spruce It Up!

• Sponsored by the Los Angeles Chapter, American Society of Interior Designers
• Through July 31, 2007
• Special Consultation Rate of $95.00 per hour for first two hours.
• For Residential and Business clients.
• Call the Spruce It Up Hotline:  (310) 659-8998
• Visit the website for more detail.

Excessive Shopping is Topic on Today's XM Satellite Radio

If you subscribe to XM Satellite Radio, tune to Channel 156 for today's Peter Walsh Show and a panel of shopping experts.

• Peter Walsh, Organizing Expert and former host of Clean Sweep.
• Dr. April Benson, editor of I Shop Therefore I Am: Compulsive Buying & the Search for Self and the founder of Stopping Overshopping.   Dr. Benson is  a psychologist who specializes in the treatment of compulsive buying disorder and how to wrangle excessive shopping habits.
• Paco Underhill, author of Call of the Mall: The Geography of Shopping by the Author of Why We Buy.

"Many people today love to shop till they drop—but sometimes a person's shopping can get out of control and can even become an addiction. "There is a constant search for more, better, different, and the function of the shopping is to deal with some kind of emotional issue, some kind of psychological issue," Dr. Benson says."

The show airs at the following times:

• Eastern Standard Time: 11 am-12noon, 5 pm- 6pm, and 11 pm-midnight
• Central Time: 10am-11 am, 4pm-5pm, 10pm-11pm
• Mountain Time: 9am-10am,3pm-4pm, 9pm-10pm
• Pacific Time: 8am-9am, 2pm-3pm, 8pm-9pm

Do you plan on listening?

• Hear: Peter Walsh on Oprah and Friends (subscription required).

  

Neat Receipts "Neat News" - Our May Article - "The Carousel of Computer Progress"

Earlier this month, I participated in the Neat Receipts "Neat News" by writing an article about personalizing your technology.

The newsletter is sent out to over 10,000 customers and was such fun to write.

I just love my Neat Receipts software.  I've scanned receipts, event invitations, old client files and lots and lots of checks, business cards and magazine articles.  The Philadelphia-based company took the time out last month to attend the National Association of Professional Organizers Conference in Minneapolis.  It was great to meet some of the staff and swap stories.

Here's a short tip from the piece:

"Surely, who wouldn’t benefit from a little out-of-the box scanning? How about scanning your birth certificate, social security card, driver’s license, passport, insurance cards and credit cards, in case your wallet is stolen? And you’ll always have a backup in an emergency."

Please check it out and let us know what you think.

• Read the Carousel of Computer Progress, by John Trosko
• Download the entire May issue of "Neat News" via PDF (we're on pages 4 and 5)

Top 11 Locations Where You Can Cut the Clutter

When a fire destroyed her home, Betsy Kramer discovered what is truly important in life.  She now shares her knowledge with others, through her professional organizing business Cash In Clutter, based in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, three hours west of Philadelphia.

Here's a bit of Betsy's bio:

"When I lost everything tangible in my life, I felt very vulnerable. Digging through bags of donated clothes I felt very humble. Surrounded by only my family and not my things I felt very loved. Through it all I discovered who I was. It was such a blessing."

"Dr. James Dobson, a popular Evangelist, claims that Americans are living their lives in a “routine panic.” We have put such a high importance on things that the people in our lives often suffer."

In Betsy's column for Clever Parents, she notes the 11 top places where clutter accumulates:

1. Cleaning detergents
2. Pots and pans
3. Condiments
4. Magazines
5. Medicine cabinet
6. Car
7. Purse
8. Diaper Bag
9. Bookcase
10. Make-up
11. Linens

Of course Betsy offers advise on cutting that clutter.  Check those out too as well as her other articles.  She certainly has a point of view to talk about all this.

Can you think of other areas around the home (or office) where stuff accumulates?

Image courtesy USGS.