Black Hole Glove Box

Is your glove box like an archaeological site dig?  You can tell the last time you cleaned it by how many expired insurance cards you find?  Let’s dig deep and tackle that unsightly black hole!

Start by emptying the entire contents and starting fresh.  Here is my bare bones must-have list of items you should have in your glove box:

1. Important Information:

1. Current registration card
2. Auto insurance card
3. Roadside assistance card
4. Medical information
5. Emergency Contact

Old registration cards can be filed away with the corresponding year’s tax documents.  Expired insurance and roadside assistance cards can be shredded. Write down important Medical info on all drivers of the vehicle - at minimum you should list allergies, current medications and your primary physician’s name and phone number.  Next, write down the name and number(s) of your emergency contact.  Keep these up-to-date cards in a clear plastic sleeve for easy retrieval. Yes, it takes a couple minutes to compile these, but if you’re ever in an emergency you’ll be so glad you did!

2. Accident Report Guide:  Let’s hope it never happens, but if you get in a car accident, you could be shaken up and forget to write down important facts.  Check with your auto insurance provider for a complete checklist of what to do in case of an accident.  Take photos of the accident with your cell phone camera and if you don’t have one (I’m very impressed you’re surfing the web and reading a blog right now) get a disposable camera and make sure the film isn’t expired.
3. Your Car’s Manual:  If you ever need to change a taillight or fuse you’ll be glad you left this in the car!
4. Map:  Old school, I know, but a map of your city and/or state is always a great back up for when your GPS is “recalculating” or your phone battery runs out. 
5. First aid kit:  I’m talking tiny people; a couple Band-Aids, an antiseptic wipe and a few Tylenol.  If you have a medical situation while driving requiring more supplies than that you might want to pull over and seek professional help!
6. Napkins:  Always have a few napkins ready in case of a drink spill.
7. Baby Wipes:  Travel sized packages of baby wipes are excellent for washing your hands when hand sanitizer just isn’t enough.   

Remember, we're talking about a small glove compartment so not every single supply you would ever need in every life situation can fit in here.  Keeping it simple will keep it organized.

Messy Drawers #1 - In the Kitchen

Kitchen drawers are notorious for becoming a dumping ground of odds and ends.  I’m here to tell you, it is possible to have a junk drawer-free kitchen.  When every drawer has a specific purpose, things magically get put back where they belong.  Imagine that!

Deep Drawer Folding

Let’s ease in by starting with the kitchen towel/dishcloth drawer.  If your drawer is deep and you end up digging through layers of unfolded towels to find what you’re looking for, consider a different folding method.  In general I recommend folding textiles according to the storage space you have available.  It’s amazing how a different number of folds can make items fit a space so much better.  With a deep kitchen drawer, try folding your towels with my half-cubed method or for large towels the 3rds method.  What?  Math?  That stuff sneaks in everywhere, doesn’t it?

Half-Cubed: 

1. Fold in half lengthwise twice.
2. Fold in half widthwise once. 

3rds Method:

1. Fold widthwise into 3rds
2. Fold lengthwise into 3rds.

For small dishcloths either fold in half twice or fold in thirds, then in half (depending on the available space).  Always stack your towels so the fold greats you, (meaning you see the nice rounded fold instead of the ends of the towel) and you can easily grab the towel or dishcloth you need without digging.  One drawer down!