Tip-O-The-Day: Needed, Big Strong Man?

I was at a friend's house the other day and we were discussing the rearranging of her living room furniture and she actually said, "I think I'll hire a couple guys to just shift everything." What?? I really didn't understand this because she doesn't own anything over 4 feet tall or more than a 150 pounds . . . I think I said, "What are you talking about?"  Was she really going to pay a man to scoot furniture around her apartment?  So I let her in on the secret to being a delicate flower (myself included!) and moving heavy furniture.

1) AS SEEN ON TV:  You can buy those furniture coasters they sell on late-night TV where a tiny woman slips them under each corner of a ten foot tall, fully stacked bookcase, then pushes it across the carpet with one hand. They are plastic discs that displace the weight and slide like casters.

2) FOR THE STARVING ARTISTS: You can use a good, thick, flat piece of cardboard underneath one end or both ends of the furniture.  For example, if you are moving a couch alone, you can put the cardboard under one end (or two legs) of the couch, then lift the other end and pull it into the new spot. Remember, ALWAYS LIFT WITH YOUR KNEES!! Especially if you're alone, nothing like throwing out your back and not being able to reach a phone! I've done it. Not fun. It took me 4 hours to get to the phone. On December 23rd, the day I was to fly home for Christmas.  Yeah, not fun. But I digress, if you're moving a bookshelf, empty it first, put cardboard under the whole thing, then push from the lower part of the case. Have your tennies on for better traction.

So, cardboard, bent knees, tennies and some gumption - But first, always call a friend,  if we're around, we really are happy to help for free, or for a glass of wine :)

thanks for reading!  xo ruby

Organizing Tip-O-The-Day:

I have a tiny kitchen with tiny counters and even tinier cupboards. For those of us with very limited space, a dish-rack may be sometimes in the way and cumbersome to store.  I don't think it's an absolute necessity (people are gasping at this).  I simply dry my dishes on two towels and when I need more space, I put them away and hang the towels outside to dry.

I know this is not practical for everyone- but if you're space is tiny and you haven't many dishes on a daily basis (aka, you're single...) and your dish rack just seems in the way... pass it on to someone else or the Goodwill, you'll add an instant foot or two to your counter space!

Organizing Tip-o-The-Day

I like pretty, color-y, shiny things- and I like putting stuff inside stuff. A cheap and easy design trick for storing everyday things like pens, post-its, stamps, etc . . . is to use flower pots. I found these at the 99cent store!

:) ruby

Lesson Learned

Hello Indeed-

First, let me say thanks for stopping by. . . Thanks!  Second, I want to explain that the photos above were lovingly offered by a good client, and I would never post someone's space without express permission. AND, the examples will always remain anonymous-

SO, on that particular day we got said client all nice and organized. I, on the other hand, not so much. When we finished, both of us left her apartment, and as I watched her drive away, I threw my purse, my camera and my keys onto my passenger seat, grabbed my phone to call someone, and promptly hit the "All Lock" button on the door while slamming it shut. With my wallet wide open hanging out of my purse,  keys right next to it and camera saying "Smile, Come steal me!" - all in a car that had been broken into twice in the last 20 days . . . but like any good Angelino, I did have my phone glued to my hand so I was able to call my friend & neighbor for help. I instructed him on how to break into my apartment and where my spare key was, but in true LA fashion, traffic was just too difficult for him to get to my exact location, so I walked down to a centrally located Starbucks to meet him.  I had to leave my car in the center of Hollywood with it's sweet, sweet nectar dripping off the front seat - with no real barrier that couldn't be easily breached if you didn't care.  I mean the last person smashed my window using the butt of a Corona bottle - it's Hollywood, Man, people are resourceful.

But I risked it and it paid off, Brent met me at Starbucks, gave me the key, traffic for him wasn't bad, I got a little exercise by racing back to the car in fear, and big relief to see it all in tact. Thank you Car Gods. My new mantra, "Keys stay in hand, keys in hand...." Hopefully, lesson learned!