As a Savvy Auntie, you know how important it is to stay organized. It makes you prepared for spontaneous entertaining, whether you are spending time with your friends or your nieces and nephews. Here are five tools that will help you avoid clutter.

Q Knot
These reusable ties are pretty handy compared to traditional plastic ties or rubber bands. They come in three sizes and different colors. You can use and reuse them for anything you and your nieces and nephews can dream up. Use them to secure electronic cables and cords, keep craft items together, or close up an open bag. The pro version is more heavy-duty and can be used in garages, tool sheds and gardens.

You can find Q Knot at several retailers, including The Container Store, Crate & Barrel, The Home Depot and Fry’s Electronics. They’re also available online at Amazon and Organize.com.

Dynotag
Do your nieces and nephews have a tendency to leave things at school or lose things? Help them retrieve their lost items by tagging their stuff with QR codes. If they leave their coat behind, someone else can scan the QR code with their smartphone and find their parents’ contact information to return the missing item. If someone scans the code, you or the parents of your nieces and nephews will receive an email notification.

You could create a tag with your emergency contact information, and stick it in your wallet on their Emergency Contact Information. The tags come in several formats as stickers, luggage tags, military-style dog tags, and pet tags.

Rubbermaid Bento Boxes
These boxes have been my latest obsession. The fabric boxes are sturdy, come in three different colors, and help you organize items by carving out niches inside. Like the name implies, the “bento” part of the box has fabric sections that pop out to create smaller spaces inside. Use these boxes in your Savvy Auntie space to stash toys and other items for your visiting nieces and nephews or in the rooms for your older children. 

The boxes come in four sizes – small, medium, large and extra-large. The toppers can be used as a traditional lid or flip it over to use as a tray. The boxes and toppers are sold separately on Rubbermaid’s website, but they do offer 3-piece and 6-piece sets that include both boxes and toppers.

Bobble Water Bottles
Technically, a water bottle isn’t an organizing product, but I like anything that saves me money and time. Since I cart my own bobble around to make sure I drink enough water, I am frequently asked about it. Essentially, it’s a water bottle with a filter, and the filter comes in different colors and replaces 300 water bottles. Replace the filter every three to four months. One of my nieces was so fascinated by mine that I bought her one for Christmas.

The company now has a water pitcher with the same filter technology and two types of lunch boxes.

Chalkboard Decals
You’ve probably seen the wall decals in the stores you can use to decorate a child’s room or your own savvy space. Chalkboard decals can create an instant chalkboard with no fuss or muss. Use smaller decals to create a grocery list in the kitchen, or use a larger one to create an art space for your nieces and nephews. Create your own shapes with chalkboard contact paper. When you no longer need them, remove them from the wall.

Published: February 12, 2012