You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg at an office supply or storage store in order to mark off the “Get Organized” line on your resolution list!  Look around your home, or local thrift store, and get creative!

Keep a decorative bowl by the door and establish the habit of dropping your keys there as soon as you walk in.  You’ll never lose your keys in your house again!  I also love to use them in a shelf in my closet as a pretty way to store my jewelry…

Glass containers also make a pretty jewelry display…

image via french garden house

A multi-tier pant hanger doubles as ribbon storage…

image via creativing keepsakes

What in the world would we do without ziploc bags?  I use them for everything!  They’re a must for keeping small toys or game pieces together.

image via thrifty decor chick and real simple

Take a look inside this medicine cabinet!  I love the way they used the magnetic containers for rubber bands and hair pins…

image via decorology

These vintage suitcases are prefect for storing old memorabilia and makes an interesting vignette.

image via decorology

Did you have “get organized” on your list of resolutions?  What’s your favorite organization tool?

My friend, Kelley Edler, and I have a lot in common.  To start wtih, she’s one of the only people I know that spell Kelley with an “ey”!  She also loves music that makes you “move”,  knowing all of the lyrics, eating blackberry cobbler – even if it means staining our tongues – and laughing hard

Kelley recently moved to Austin and I’m going to miss her like crazy!  I’m so glad that she’s still thinking of me when she sees things that are “blog-worthy” like these ideas for new uses for old things that she recently spotted on the Real Simple site.  Thanks, Kel!

Here’s a few of my favorites…

Cast iron board as recipe holder:

Rolodex as gift card holder -

Zippered Bed-linen bag as art supply carrier:

Baking sheet as a bulletin board:

Find more creative uses for old things at Real Simple.  What do you use around your house in an unconventional way?

This inspires me to live with less…

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZSdrtEqcHU&feature=player_embedded

What is your best space saving tip?

Confession time…

My drawers and closets (and a few other areas in my home) look like a “disorganized  crime scene”!  I came across these pictures of Martha Stewart’s kitchen drawers and organization suggestions that have inspired me to get busy and do some Spring cleaning…starting with the kitchen!

Martha prefers rectangular compartments for utensil storage rather than spoon or fork-shaped  spaces.

Everyone has a “junk drawer” in the kitchen that contains the items seen in this organized version, don’t you?  My goal…Never use the “j word” again!  Martha loves her P-touch label maker!

The hardware drawer…the things you use the most…light bulbs, extension cords, batteries, etc.

Stack linens with the smallest on top!

Measuring cups, graters, peelers, etc. are always the hardest to keep straight, right?  My problem is that I only have 5 drawers in my little 1930′s kitchen!  Do you have a good solution for storing these items if you don’t have enough drawer space to dedicate to these items?  I’m thinking, maybe, a special bin to keep in the pantry…

This drawer is part of Martha’s kitchen, but I choose to keep these items in my bathroom.  I do love these little bowls to contain these first aid supplies.  Unfortunately she didn’t include the source, but I’m sure that Container Store has something similar.

I love living in an old home, but if I could design a new kitchen, I would include this nifty little base board drawer space.  Genius!

Check out more of Martha’s 50 top kitchen tips and be inspired!!

This site is interesting eye candy for me.  It makes me want to start lining things up around my house and snapping pictures; although I’m sure that mine wouldn’t be as amazing as these.  Enjoy!

photos via Things Organized Neatly

I’m thinking that this may be a great replacement for the complimentary make-up bag that I’m now using for all of the endless cords and digital devices I schlep around!

Grid-it from Flight 001

Find it here for $22!