Let’s be clear from the get-go: I have six kids and I am the co-founder of Mabel’s Labels Inc. Clearly, labelling is a huge part of my life and essential for keeping me organized. In fact, the thought of not being organized makes me shudder.
Recently, I had a chat with our Customer Service guru, Martha at Mabel’s HQ to get her frontline opinions about some of the creative ways our customers stay organized with labels. All I can say is…WOW, I am inspired! Indeed, it appears we are providing labels for some pretty clever mamas!
The Snow Day
Moms are finding wicker baskets great for all the kids’ hats, scarves and mittens. Give each kid a basket, attach a personalized tag like our Bag Tag to the basket handle and call it home for all their snow paraphernalia.
Off the Hook
Pop a label like one of our Sticky Labels above each child’s coat hook. Each coat should then be able to find its way back to where it belongs. No excuses—labels don’t lie.
The Spice Girls
Try our custom Canister/Spice Labels for your spice jars and kitchen canisters to keep tabs on everything. Small labels like this are so versatile you can also personalize them for video games, cosmetics, craft paints and supplies, DVDs, book plates, etc.
The “I’m Addicted to Rubbermaid Totes” Mama
For the woman who locks it all away in handy plastic totes, but can only find the Christmas tree garland when she needs Easter Eggs—label the totes after each holiday with what is inside (Custom Bin Labels are your answer and at the end of the year you’ll be back on track with all the holiday paraphernalia!
The “If I Lend You this Book, Will I Get It Back?” Dilemma
Label those books with your name and phone number to ensure they make it back to your bookshelf.
The Litterless Lunch
Line ‘em up and start slinging sandwiches. Put small labels on the food containers, the thermos, cutlery, etc. These little labels will ensure all your lunch bag components make it home, while also guaranteeing the right lunch finds a home in the right stomach.
The Monster Under the Desk
If your computer and electronic cords are looking more like an angry octopus, get some cord control by labelling these as well. No more guessing whether you’ve unplugged the phone or the PVR.
The Costco Creeper
Buy in bulk? Can’t lift your 40lb tub of shampoo or family-sized barrel of pickles. Downsize to smaller containers and label!
What’s your best label hack? Tell us how you use labels in your life and enter for your chance to win some Mabel’s Labels. Here’s how:
For the next week, each time you post a comment with a labelling tip, you will be entered to win one of three prizes courtesy of Mabel’s Labels. We have two Big Combo packages and one set of Mama Cards to give-away. The more comments you leave in response to this post, the more chances you have to win! (Click here for contest rules and regulations.)
Big Combo Package
Mama Cards
A friend forwarded this illuminating quote to me:
The Living Will
“Last night, my kids and I were sitting in the living room and I said to them ‘If I am ever very ill and dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle…please if it ever happens, just pull the plug’.
They got up, unplugged the computer, and threw out my wine.”
There are so many reasons we mamas, myself definitely included, love our computers. Just to name a few:
Online Shopping
This holiday season I opted out of dragging six kids around crowded shopping malls. Sure, I could have tried to shop while the kids scaled escalators or got soaked trying to clear pennies from the bottom of the water fountain. Instead I put the kids to bed, poured a glass of wine and did all my seasonal shopping online in an hour.
Online Communities
No longer does a social occasion require me to get showered and gussied up. I can hang out with my girlfriends on one of the many mama message boards out there, or participate in any of the popular Twitter #GNOs. The best part—hair is in a ponytail and flannel PJs are on. How’s that for a social life without the hassles of getting out the door or paying a babysitter? Though I do occasionally try to get out for an ‘in real life’ girls’ night, my bailout rate is far lower with my online friends!
Facebook
What better way is there to catch up with your high school friends without having to lose 10 lbs in time for the reunion? If you can handle dealing with friend requests from folks like that creepy guy you smooched when you were 20, you can use Facebook as an easy way to get connected, stay connected, and share information. Quite simply, it’s time efficient and what savvy moms don’t value that? And for those of you not sold on Twitter—get on the Twitter bus—getting and giving updates in 140 characters easily fits into any busy mama’s schedule.
So if our kids were to unplug our computers and throw out our wine, there would be serious implications. What mamas find in our online communities is likely what makes us more sane and rational. Maybe we’re not hooked up to machines and fluids just yet, but our kiddos should think twice before messing with a tech-savvy mama’s other lifelines!
I find myself thinking about “140 characters or less” in everyday life. Does that make me a nerd?
I don’t know what I ever did without Twitterberry, let alone Twitter itself. The relationships I’ve gained are so helpful!
Very true post Julie! It was hard when my family and I moved to a small town being so far from friends, but still being able to connect with everyone online made it an easier transition. Nothing beats a #GNO in your pj’s either! Thanks!
Comments
So my nice purpled labeled ones stand out! - thanks!! I loves the idea of showing off her name in those bright bold colours! :)
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I use them on the toy organizer. Each bin is labeled so when Daddy picks up the toys he can’t dump everything in the top bin saying I didn’t know where they belong.