Wednesday, March 3, 2010

A Thrifty Find & Organizing Tip

Detail
Hello everyone! I finally put up an initial decal that I got last year at TJ Maxx.

M
I wasn’t sure where I was going to put it, but I got tired of it sitting on the floor so I just picked a place LOL!

board

It's over my Inspiration board which I also gave a light blue wash. I thought that was a good place since the board is all about me!

basket

But my happiest find last month was this fantastic basket at Goodwill. It has wheels!


It’s got a removable liner and wheels!

Openbasket

Have I mentioned it rolls! LOL! Right now I’m keeping my slipcovers for my Parsons Chairs in it.

Nightstand

I know most of you probably think I need something in between the board and the basket.

fileboxes

Well that’s where I usually stack my file boxes. The first one is where we keep all our receipts in alphabetical order. Except Home Depot, Target, and Lowes which get their own folders since we shop there all the time. It makes it easier when you want to return something to have one place to go to for the receipt. Most stores have changed their return policies these days and aren’t quite as lenient as they used to be. You need a receipt to make a return unless you’re happy with a store credit.

The second box is where I keep all the paid bills and that’s organized by month.

So when I need to work on stuff I can just roll my basket over to my desk and file things and use it for another surface. Plus it’s storage! Multi-purpose pieces are so important when you have a house that doesn’t have a lot of built in storage.

Hope you are all having a good week and thanks for stopping by!

58 comments:

Vee said...

It's easy to tell why you're so excited about a basket that rolls. I'd love one, too! Your method for saving receipts and taking care of bills is an excellent one. I've been trying to come up with something better than "here a pile, there a pile, everywhere a pile-pile" for some little time now.

PCovi said...

Oh score on that basket!!
I love your monogram :) and insp. board!

A Southern Rose said...

I love your basket on wheels! What a great find! You can find so many uses for that one. Your monogram is pretty too. I need to get organized myself. I keep putting it off. That seems to be a problem that I have. LOL

Come by and see my post. I finally got my china cabinet finished.

Hugs,
Lee Laurie

Unknown said...

I have a board too, but it's hung in a place that I don't see every day. I need to move it. I was thinking about getting a pretty script H for our last name and centering it over our bed. My dad has a machine that makes those, so if I don't love it, I can always tear it down and do something different. I know, I'm spoiled.

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Manuela, I love the Monogram M and the bluewashed idea board. They look lovely together. And you are right! What a find at GW! I would love that! Your organized way you keep track of "office papers" is a wonderful idea. And it would take just a second to put all papers in their proper place. This is my kind of organizing!
Yvonne

Jackie McGuinness said...

What a great find at GW. You ladies are inspiring me to go visit GW and Value Village.

Cindy said...

Manuela, Your initial is beautiful! Your idea board is gorgeous and your rolling basket is awesome! And it rolls!?!? How great is that! Your room looks so pretty with all of your lovelies in it!

Jill said...

Love that! I also got one of those intitals at TJ and my 14yo daughter put it on the wall at the bottom of our basement stairs. She was so proud of her "decorating" and it looks great. {And I loved your honesty of saying it was sitting on the floor! lol!} In my case it would "rattling around in the back of my SUV"

Patricia said...

I am loving the ~m~ it is adorable!
The basket is AWESOME!!!
The wheels make it worth a million bucks!
Blessings to you
Patricia

Stacey said...

That basket is awesome! I bet it cost a fortune new. Way to go!

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

Perfect place for your "m"!!

And a rolling basket? A veruy good thing!

Lou Cinda :)

Heathahlee said...

I have a vinyl decal that I got last summer that I have yet to do anything with. And it's sooo pretty! I need to do what you did and just put it somewhere already! : )

Love that basket! I NEVER find great stuff like that at Goodwill!

Debbie said...

Great find! I really like the frame! It's all very inspiring.
Debbie

Ally's Corner said...

Great find, love that it has wheels. I really like were you put the monogram.

Marla said...

Manuela, have I told you how much I like your style? Well I do and the initial decal is wonderful over the nifty frame. love the basket too, I recently found a couple of big neat baskets, but not as slick as yours. how cool. Smiles, Marla

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

I love that letter. I have never seen one of those at T.J. Maxx. Great basket,too. It is a lot like one I have under my sofa table. Mine is an old French hamper. Love the blue you did on your inspiration board, too.

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Love the monogram. It looks just wonderful. The basket is a great find. Gorgeous. Such a wonderful treasure. Hugs, Marty

Julie said...

What a wonderful basket!

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Cool Initial!

And super Cool rolling basket!!!

^_^

Kathleen Grace said...

I am a big fan of using baskets for storage. they are beautiful and add texture to a room. This one is a sweet find! I like the initial over your inspiration board too, I assume this is your office?

Julie Harward said...

I love the basket and the board and the big M...looks great! :D

Eileen said...

That basket is a great find! And I just love your decal. Looks like a perfect place to me. :)

Anonymous said...

Love the polka dots, and I think you picked a perfect place for it. The basket, of course, is gorgeous!

Love the Decor! said...

Love that Decal!!
You are so very organized and that basket was a great find for you!!

Barb said...

Manuela, love the initial....it looks great!!

Barb

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Manuela, I love the basket and your monogram...but I am truly in love with door hanging on the left.

Amy Kinser said...

Love your mongram, basket and board. Great stuff...

Stephanie said...

Love the initial and the blue wash you added to your inspiration board!

Jeanette said...

I wish I was even 1% that organized. Love that basket and monogram.

Rose H (UK) said...

Just love the basket. An excellent use for it too.

Ginger said...

Very cool stuff.
I've been reading you for a while and think your blog is beautiful, so over at my blog, there's something for you! Stop by if you can!

Kathleen said...

Your initial looks great! I love lidded wicker baskets for storage..wheels are even better.

Robin@DecoratingTennisGirl said...

Manuela,
I love the "M". I am a big Mary Tyler Moore Show fan and I just bought a wooden "R", to hang in my kitchen, which I haven't painted, yet. It isn't as big as Mary's "M" in her apt, but still the same, my little tribute to Mary :)

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Your basket is GREAT- I actually went out and bought a similar one at Michael's today for magazines- even at half off, I like your Goodwill find much better with those great wheels! I love your inspiration board- I need to try something like that to keep ideas fresh in my mind- thanks! And the initial is wonderful!

Crystal said...

I just love that monogram over your inspiration board. What a great find in that basket with wheels.

Have a blessed week.

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Your monogram over the idea board looks perfect. Sure like the basket on wheels. I am working on more organization/storage ideas around my home.

Jennifer said...

I just love that little space! The board and initial are so chic.
I do love your system for organizing receipts and bills. I have a general folder where mine stay until the rush to get taxes dones the next year. Not cool at all! When we get several of these other projects finished that is one system of mine that I would like to overhaul.

Enjoy the little warm-up we have coming,
Jennifer

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

I love the blue wash on your inspiration board, and that basket is wonderful! Your monogram looks great. laurie

Denise said...

The monogram looks great in that spot and I am LOVING the rolling basket!!

XXDenise

Cottage Rose said...

Love the monogram,looks so great there.. and the basket what a great find.. have a great week.

Hugs
Alaura

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Your "M" looks great and I love your basket that rolls! You are so organized. I am amazed by you.

Sue said...

That monogram looks so cute on the wall above your board....Husband just went out and got me file folders for the new year....I have to be more organized...but no wheels....I need a basket with wheels!!

Carolyn @ Thrifty Journal said...

Love the basket, decal and inspiration board. Tomorrow I have a date w/ Goodwill and hope to get "that special something".:)

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

Wonderful Manuela! I love that rolling basket - so cool!


XOXXO
Jen

KimMalk said...

That's a nice find!

Anonymous said...
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Adrienne said...

Beautiful blog - I'll be looking through your posts, but the few I have seen so far are very nice!

Julie said...

AWESOME. Looks great there. You always find the "right spot". You definitely have "the eye!" :-) Thats why so many of us pop in all the time to see all the great ideas. Thanks Manuela!!!
And you are organized too!!!!!!!
You go girl. Double inspiration.
Your wicker basket (rolling!!) is a super find. I know you were just smiling checking out! Its just too fun. Thanks for the great photo post. Have a great day! Julie

Unknown said...

That basket is so cool. I use accordian files for my recepts too. Mine is open at the top so I just can stick them very easily. The decal is fun and also your inspiration board. This must be your office. Linda

Donna said...

Manuela, I love your monogram M! Love the basket on wheels too.
I keep an inspirational vision journal that I started after I read the book "Simple Abundance". Yours is very nice and I like the blue wash you put on it.

Melissa Miller said...

Manuela the "M" is fantastic! It really gives a nice touch to the room. Great find on the pretty and functional basket too.

~Blessings, ~Melissa :)

{northern cottage} said...

cool finds! i have the EXACT SAME BASKET!! I blogged last fall about how I changed it up a bit! Fun!

http://northerncottage.blogspot.com/2009/10/numbered-basket.html

Angie said...

I have got to get one of those monograms too and put it somewhere...could frame it and put it on my mantle. Oh, now my wheels are turning. Love that basket too! Great storage and looks french country to me.

Jennifer said...

I am so incredibly impressed by your organizational skills. I want to be you when I grow up. Love that inspiration board too. Have a great weekend.

1 Funky Woman said...

I wish you were going to say you got that monogram right now because my initial is an M and I would have run out right now and grabbed one for myself!

Your wall looks great! I love your lamp! Did you put pearls and pins on it?

Anonymous said...

You just gave me a great idea for my files that are in a regular box!

Melanie said...

That was a find, wasn't it? I love that it rolls!

Christina said...

Gorgeous basket. That is a great find. My reciepts are always a mess. I could certainly do with some organization.

I really love your peg board and monogram. The whole picture is a delight for the eyes.