With back to school time just around the corner we’ll be looking at some back to school tips this month. If your kids are in school, and you drive them to school, you can save time by making a car school station box.

Grab a box, and fill it up with basics - pencils, pens, a box of colored pencils, dividers, a few notebooks, some filler paper, and whatever other school-necessary items you can think of. This way if your kid forgets something, and you’re halfway to school, you can dive into the box instead of driving home. With school supplies on sale right now, this is the perfect time to stock up for a car school station box.

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Folding colander - folds down completely flat to save space on kitchen (also comes in pink).

WMF - kult sugar/creamer/syrup by sebastian bergne for wmf - store whatever liquid you choose.

Store visually then stack it up! - Zak 4pc 6.75oz Mini Stackable Canister Set - Assorted POP! (available in green as well).

Organize your herb growing experience - Evasolo - flowerpot by eva solo of denmark

Liven up boxes or canisters with the Kitchen Canister Stencil Set - totally cute and old school.

Store salt & pepper in mod fashion with an Alessi Lilliput Salt and Pepper Set - comes in various colors, but I like the orange.

Rosendahl - storage jars by ole palsby - Ah, beauty in canister form.

Organized salad anyone? Try the programma 8 sets by alessi - perfect for small summer dinner parties.

Organize the kiddos meals with the Puzzle Dinner tray (I know, not SO much an organizing tool - but so darn adorable).

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I really need a nice charging station. Right now my charging station is called “the kitchen counter” or “floor.” I don’t have too many items to charge; but I do have a phone, pda, my son’s Gameboy, and two digital cameras. Cords can get a bit messy.

Three ideas to cut down the charging clutter:

I like this charging station below because you can charge four items and it’s basic. I’m not too keen on the color, but it’s tidy and would fit in a small area or even on your desk.

Contemporary Charging Station - sleek and handy. The extra storage drawer is nice.

The Bedford Smart Recharge Station is on sale right now and is so cute. I love that it has a nice little platform. It looks more at home in a bedroom than most, and comes in some great color choices.

Do you have a charging station? Do you like it?

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I’ve got about ten keys on my keyring. I use maybe three of them. Frankly, I need to clean it up because I don’t even know what some of the keys are for anymore. I can manage with just the three keys right now. However, when I had a job in the outside world, I had a lot of keys; for file cabinets and such. It was hard to keep track. Keys all look sort of alike. Yeah there are exceptions, but for the most part, grabbing the right key quickly when you have a bunch is tough.

Here’s what to do to get those keys organized for quick use:

Use color:

Use design:

My aunt made my sister and I keys to her house so if we went over, we could get in if she was gone. The keys were so cute. She made me a blue key with little moons and stars on it. She made my sis an orange OSU key (my sis likes football). We were pretty happy, because they were unique. I had no idea, but I guess most key makers will do custom designs now-a-days. You could get a different design for each key.

And then there are key caps.

Key caps rock, because you can get all sorts of cute little caps. OR just go for basic.

Monkey KeyCaps

Skeleton KeyCaps

Mod Key Caps

Fun stuff!

[color key image via stock.xchng]

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Baskets can be used for all sorts of storage solutions. No matter the storage job, there’s likely a basket out there that will work. There are round baskets, square baskets, and all sorts of sizes. You can find fancy baskets, or hunt around for great thrift store and garage sale baskets. Here are some ideas about what you can do with baskets for home storage.

1. Silverware drawer
2. laundry hamper
3. Planter - either outdoors or inside
4. Magazine holder
5. Toy box
6. Car storage
7. Umbrella stand
8. Pen holder - and other office supplies
9. College dorm bathroom supplies
10. Sewing kit
11. Picnics
12. Art - such as use a basket as a decor piece
13. Art supplies
14. Divide up your linen closet
15. Clothes divider in dressers
16. Use for dried flower arrangements
17. Store rolls of wrapping paper in a tall one
18. Bread baskets
19. Dinnerware - with liners
20. CD holder
21. Take one to the beach, park, camping, etc
22. Makeshift cooler (best to use a plastic basket for this one)
23. Use for a more attractive garbage can, say in the bath or office
24. Recycling bins
25. Hair supplies - your daughter’s barrettes and hair ties
26. Jewelry holder
27. Use different ones for holding each family member’s mail
28. Dog toys
29. Baby blankets
30. Incense holder

There are plenty of other things you can do with baskets. What do you like to do with them? See some cool baskets.

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