Friday's Organizing Item

I was trying to find a way to get the mail from the mailbox to the kitchen counter to a central place that BOTH my husband and I could find it. Cute little sorters and dividers didn't work. The large pile on the counter was hopeless.

Then I saw this. I had seen it at the MOMA store in New York. And loved it because it was my favorite color of green. But then saw it in the Container Store (only in black and white though but less expensive than the MOMA version).

It works great for mail. I sort through the mail when I get home - ONE pile goes under the sink in the recycling can, SECOND pile goes upstairs next to the shredder and THIRD pile goes into the basket. Action items, coupons, magazines -- it all goes. Aaron and I both know that all the mail is there and we can both go through it at anytime (if we want to...more often we opt out). The strap makes it portable -- I take the basket upstairs and sort through while in the office. Or could throw it in the car and take it to the coffee shop if I just can't bear to look at it all alone. Or if I'm heading to Raleigh to see my Mom or Annapolis to see Aaron's parents, I can just grab it and throw it in the car.

But there are unlimited uses:

*In the back of the station wagon or SUV to throw books, shoes, sports equipment for easy, stylish access (and to take into the house every once in awhile to clean out)

*Newspapers and magazines next to a wicker chair on a sunporch

*Fresh fruits and vegetables in a large open kitchen

*Bottles of water or wine next to the dining room table or to bring out to the deck

*Hostess gift filled with a bottle of wine and freshly baked pie or unique cheeses and crusty bread