I don’t think I’ve told you lately about my latest obsession with the Martha Stewart Home Office Collection (available exclusively at Staples). I am talking OBSESSED with all capital letters. It doesn’t help either that a new Staples store has just opened in the town that I live in. I practically live there drooling over all the stock. I mean I’m crazy about office stationery in general but the Martha line is so extensive and matching and well fun! 🙂 I love love love the Shagreen texture.
So ya it’s safe to say that I’ve purchased a “few” things from the Martha line of office products so I won’t lie when I say I may have giggled like a school girl when they contacted me about working with them to test out some of the collection. In fact I may even have busted a move right there in my living room with a twirl or two added in for the sheer joy of it. If this is frightening any of you, have you read the title of my blog? I am a ridiculous full-fledged organizing junkie!! But lucky for you I’m totally willing to get others “hooked” along with me (I’m nice like that!). An obsession is way more fun when others around you are just as excited as you are. Unfortunately for me, my family looks at me like I’ve come from another planet when I go on and on and on about it all. Sheesh, it’s so sad really 🙂 That’s why I’m so happy I can come here and share with you my obsessions with baskets, bins and office stationery too…oh my!
Okay so I’ve got to show you how I put Martha’s products to use because it makes me so happy. It provides a home for my stuff and stuff with a home is happy stuff and happy stuff has happy owners. See how that all works? It’s a good thing. Ha!
You may have noticed some of the products in my newly organized closet. For instance, when I moved the filing cabinet into the closet, I realized my old “to file” basket wasn’t going to fit on top of it. I needed a new solution which is where this document storage box from Martha came into play.
It’s smaller than my old one but that will only force me to file more often than once a year. That’s not really a bad thing 🙂
Next I used Martha’s removable labels to label to my hearts content. I love them because they aren’t permanent. I change my mind a lot.
The white magazine file holders and vertical file folders that you see are really good quality which I like because I tend to be quite hard on my magazine holders pulling them in and out all the time.
Vertical file folders are so smart!
As you know I like things that don’t have to be permanent. These removable dry-erase wall decals are fun! This one I put beside my youngest son’s bed to remind him of very important things.
He’s now changed that though to welcome people to his room instead which totally cracks me up 🙂
Have you seen the file pockets yet? Gosh they are so versatile. You can get them in clear or in the Shagreen. These are the best for clearing clutter off your counter. Here is a double pocket that I’ve got in my office. They are removable as well!
Take a look at your counters right now…have you got back to school papers piled up already? It happens and fast. You could add these to a wall or the side of your fridge and instantly have somewhere for all those papers. Have one pocket per kid or one per event. The possibilities are endless really. Sweet!
Here is how I’ve put the clear file pockets to good use.
These elastic tag labels are a fun way to label bins like I did with my supermarket bins.
Now who doesn’t love a great chalkboard label. I used these ones on my kid’s school file boxes. I will blog about the boxes later though as they deserve a post of their very own 🙂 I have the kid’s names on each of them but I wrote those on after the picture was taken.
Now I’ve saved the best for last. This one wasn’t my idea but my girlfriends because she is seriously brilliant. She too was looking for a solution for all those school papers that come home and need to be kept readily accessible. You know the school schedules, invitations, lunch forms, etc. With three kids plus all their activities she needed something a little more heavy duty. She turned to Martha’s accordion file and put it on her fridge. Oh yes she did. Command picture hanging strips (another one of my favorite brands!) attached to the back made hanging it up a breeze.
Seriously how cool is that! Everything is right at her fingertips. A perfect command center right there front and center on her fridge.
So there you have it, I told you I’m obsessed. Pretty crazy right? Wait, don’t answer that! Hope you got some ideas for your own home.
If you use it, let me know what you purchased. Junkies unite!!
Robin from Frugal Family Times says
Looks like you’ve been having some fun, Laura! Thanks for the coupon, I’ve got some ideas for those file pockets and this coupon just sweetens the deal. 🙂
Robin from Frugal Family Times says
Oh crumb – just noticed the coupons US only! 🙁
Laura says
I know I feel badly about that, I’m still looking for one that’s good for Canada and will update this post if I find one online.
Robin from Frugal Family Times says
Oh, don’t feel bad – you clearly said it in your post – I just didn’t notice. I know you keep an eye out for fellow Canadians!
Elisabeth says
Ah! Now I HAVE to go to Staples…I already bought quite a few things from this line (my home office NEEDED to be reorganized!) and I didn’t realize what all I could use those pockets for!
Diane says
I giggled when I read your post, because I too love to linger in the aisles of office supply stores. I just recently ran across the Martha Stewart line at Staples and immediately began drooling. I’ve been meaning to get back there and take a closer look and your coupon will be my inspiration! I was telling a girlfriend about my love of office supply stores just this past weekend, and she looked at me like I was completely off my rocker! I thought everyone felt this way! Congrats on your good fortune of being able to review the products! I am completely jealous!
Joanna says
I’m admitting it. I’m totally, completely jealous. I have a little fantasy in my head of Martha’s people sending me something to write about, and every time I read about someone having that very thing happen, the little kid in me goes,”Me too? Please?”
Love the file pockets, I think they’d be crazy versatile in my house!
Melissa says
Perfect timing. I was in Target and Micheals today looking for Martha’s Avery line but didn’t see them. I wanted the binder label holders for my remake on my recipe books. Good to know it’s only at Staples. And now I have a coupon! LOVE!!!
Andrea says
Lol! Your pics are great!
Hilda @ From Overwhelmed To Organized says
Love all the examples of how you used Martha’s products. I really like them but they’re usually out of my price range so I watch for coupons/sales at Staples. Too bad this coupon is only good for the US 🙁 Love the Swiss Chalet menu in the pocket 🙂
Laura says
It’s a Swiss Chalet packet of their powder seasoning for chicken. Every once and awhile I bake up a whole chicken in the crockpot and throw that on it. Yum!
Hilda @ From Overwhelmed To Organized says
Mmm…that sounds yummy! I’ve never seen those before. Are they in stores or do you buy them at Swiss Chalet?
Laura says
I bought it at my local No Frills grocery store.
Hilda @ From Overwhelmed To Organized says
Thanks so much Laura!
Mel the Crafty Scientist says
I am absolutely IN LOVE with all of the new Martha products! I have some binders and notebooks and those things and I had to go to 3 locations to find them (apparently other people LOVE them), but I feel like I need to go back and get some of those labels… and envelopes… and everything else! Love how you used them though!
Also wanted to let you know that I made a little list of some of my most favorite blogs for inspiring organizing ideas and pictures and tips and I included YOU on the list! It’s meant to be a compliment and I added your button with a link to your blog – you can see it all here. Thanks for providing me with lots of inspiration! : )
-Mel the Crafty Scientist
Emily @ Make It Happen Mama says
Oh man…this post totally made me drool! I can’t wait to head to Staples & ogle the Martha collection in person 🙂
Jen says
I love the line too, however, i don’t own nearly as many items as you ;). Thanks for the coupon, now I can add to my collection!
Jami @ An Oregon Cottage says
Oh, Laura, I also was so excited when the MS line came out at Staples. Whenever they run coupons here I try to get in and buy some. It seriously takes me awhile as I stand there admiring all of it. Sigh. I do wish the color wasn’t turquoise, though – MS used to have the greatest green color she used for everything back in her Kmart days. I LOVED that color and got all the kitchen stuff. 🙂
How exciting that they contacted you! I would’ve been dancing, too!
Marcy says
Hi there. I just wanted to say that I regularly read your blog and subscribe to your facebook site. I would like to encourage you to promote Canadian made products more in the future. I found a site which lists reasons to buy Canadian http://www.buycanadianfirst.ca/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=Why-we-should-all-be-buying-more-Canadian-made-products.html&Itemid=51 and I encourage you to read it and hopefully develop an appreciation for buying Canadian. I also encourage you to check out http://www.regal.ca/ vs the American only Open Sky.
Gretta Sisson says
I went to Stapels and bought Martha’s Binder, and have started my organizing I am loving it.