I saw this idea on Unplggd and had to share it because it’s already how I organize my wires and cords. Using plastic baggies to organize your wires is perfect because it’s cheap, you keep them from getting tangled up, keep all the same types together, and can use the label provided to write in what it is. In fact, I use this for arts and crafts supplies and for my medicine drawer as well.  As organizing tools, plastic baggies are cheap and easily adaptable to whatever situation you need them in.

By now I think it’s pretty clear how much I  love making lists, but it seems like I’m not the only one drawing parallels between detailed pilot checklists and other activities we undertake. I saw Atul Gawande on the Daily Show a few nights back and am super excited about his new book, The Checklist Manifesto. In it he proposes that other industries can learn from the pilot’s checklist in order to avoid costly or life-threatening mistakes. In particular he looks at the medical industry and how surgeons who use checklists make less mistakes and have increased success rates. He uses a mix of anecdote and practical advice to show how much more effective a team, in any industry, can be when it uses appropriate checklists.

I just downloaded it to my Kindle so it’s officially on my list of things to read. Anyone else read the whole book yet? What do you think?

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This Christmas I got a few new (awesome) electronic gadgets. When I got home it was pretty apparent that I’d need to do something to make charging all my devices a little easier, and a little less of an eyesore. I looked at some typical charging stations for sale, but they didn’t really fit my needs. Most were sized to accommodate about three gadgets and all of them pocket size – no good for my netbook or Kindle. A quick Google search brought back some great DIY projects, but all of them seemed to require tools I didn’t have or building skills I definitely don’t have.

I finally came up with a solution that I could do myself in under 20 minutes. If you got some new electronics this holiday season it may work for you as well.

Supplies: I went to the store and picked up two baskets of slightly different shape. One larger (base) basket and one smaller (accessory) basket that would sit on top without falling in. I also made sure these baskets had ‘handles’ or holes that the wires could be fed though.

Setup: When I got home I cleared out an area under my desk and set up the baskets one on top of the other. Then I threaded the wires from a powerstrip on the wall, through the handles, and into the devices. I adjusted things just a little bit and I was done.

Bonus: One added benefit of this setup versus other charging stations is that it’s fairly easy to unplug the wires and remove them entirely. That way if I need to take the wires with me somewhere it’s not too much of a hassle.

Finished look:

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If Santa brought you a bunch of battery powered electronics, you’re going to need to keep some extras on hand. Instead of saving the packages that batteries come in, use a small plastic storage box (or tupperware), it will take up much less space in your drawer.

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I saw these cable identifiers on GeekSugar and decided last weekend I would tackle the unruly wires around my entertainment center and desk. I made my own cable labels by using a left over sheet of return address labels and a red marker – a cheap, although admittedly less adorable, alternative. But now if I need to unplug or move something, I can easily find the right wire.