Key to Success

I don't know about you, but I currently have a dish of keys that I have no idea what they are for. This is not awful other than the fact that I really should know better because I had a great system. Keys add up... shed, relatives' homes, safe, multiple doors to the garage you may not use etc.

The easiest and best way to organize keys is to just colour code them. I used to do this with one dot of nail polish on each side of the key. I kept the colours unique so I recognized the keys easily. This is easy, can be done is a few minutes (just give adequate drying time to each side) and is simple to remove if you need to.

You can also colour-code by dipping the key-heads in kid's paints, using the snap-on coloured rings available, or with bits of colourful tape. I'm sticking to nailpolish.

If you have keys you don't often use make a little 'key legend' on card stock. Put a dot of the same nail polish on the card and label what it's for beside it. Put your key legend in one of those plastic name badge holders they use at conferences. Store your infrequently used keys on a keyring with the color-coded key legend in your utility drawer. Done! Never having to search for keys again is priceless!

And... take this opportunity to lighten your load but cutting down how many keys you carry. I carry ONE key now - how's that for simplifying life!

Last to the Party

image found on the web - original source unknown

Those who know me will not be surprised to learn that I only discovered Pinterest a couple of weeks ago. Was I living under a rock? Am I a Luddite? Am I a technophobe? Either way, I'm last to the Pinterest party.

The truth is that I opened an account well over a year ago, but I couldn't dream of what to use it for. I forgot the password and then forgot about it. Determination drove me back. I wanted to have a great place for photos of my naughty fabulous cat Nuala. I almost forgot about it again, but then I needed to find a recipe for a cocktail I'd invented for my sister Sharon. When I wasted 2 hours looking for it and found it (only to learn days later that her mother-in-law had my recipe), I created a visual recipe for it on a drink board. Then I indulged my obsession of courtyard cafes and bistros... oh crap... I lost literally an 8-hour day wandering through sigh-inducing photos!

I'd much rather be curled up at a bistro or cafe with a coffee in hand than doing any form of housework!

It's a given that I just had to look at housekeeping tricks now that I've started this blog of hard-earned wisdom. Wow - there is SO much out there... from decor (always an obsession with me but that is a story for another time), to organizing (which is like catnip!), to cleaning solutions. After losing about 4 hours in this rabbit's warren of links and articles I started to realize that a good deal of what was posted was crap, some bad advice, lots of useless time-wasters, and some genius bits.

Of course I created a board - and named it after this blog. I'm going to put things on there that I either a) know to be true or b) am willing to test and try in my own home.

I might test a few Pinterest solutions I find intriguing and post my findings here. Anyone Pinterested in that?? 

Do you use Pinterest? What do you think of the housekeeping info on Pinterest? Is it only as good as the pinner? Is a good part of it nonsense? Do you lose hours and days lost in articles and images there?