InPlace

FR

inplace

EE

Summer 2011 • Issue 7

!

magazine

Simplify the

season

All you need for a stress-free Christmas and New Year

Gifts for everyone!

WIN!

A wrapping station worth $700 and Poach’m products

Perfect presents for tricky people!

THE BEST

STORAGE SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR HOME!

Travel plans Make every trip a pleasure, not a chore

Plus:

Santa speaks, Russian delights, yummy recipes and more! simply organised

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contents

GET IN TOUCH!

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Issue 7 Summer 2011

We love to hear your thoughts!

email us at inplace@hsw.com.au

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18

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22 18 Get the Look

Cover photography: Chris Court/ACPSyndication.com

Howards customer Kay Palmer shows how you can turn your dream pantry into a reality.

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www.hsw.com.au

4 Indulge

20 Fast Fixes

The latest news, products and promotions from Howards Storage World.

Make your house look great while the kettle boils with these 10 five-minute projects.

6 Inspiration

22 Make Travel Stress-Free

With Christmas around the corner, here’s how to maximise festive spirit and minimise the stress.

Travel should help relieve headaches, not create more. Ensure that’s the case with these hot tips.

9 Personality Quiz

26 From Russia With Love

Find out which A-list celebrity you most take after – when it comes to tidying, at least!

Just a few clicks away from the North Pole, Russia is an astonishing Christmas destination.

10 Everything’s Catered For

28 e-Clutter Clean-up

One of Australia’s most renowned caterers shares her secrets to a smooth Christmas meal.

Electronic junk can be as cumbersome as reallife junk. Here’s how to get your e-life in order.

12 Different by Design

30 A Wonderful Life

Tired of searching for a car space? Check out this building that literally parks your car for you.

It’s his busiest time of year, but Santa was able to take five minutes out of his schedule for a chat.

14 Keep the Kids Smiling

32 Working Wonders

Give the little ones a Christmas they’ll always remember with these brilliant gift ideas.

Everything you need to bring harmony to your workplace and make those long days a bit easier.

16 Gifts for Everyone

34 Let the Chips Fall

Okay, the kids are sorted – now it’s time for mum, dad, brothers, sisters... the list goes on!

How to make healthy potato crisps. Yep, you heard that right – healthy crisps!

inplace is published by Citrus Media on behalf of Howards Storage World. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. © Howards Storage World 2011.

From the Editor Every year, around this time, most Australians take a moment to create a list of challenging resolutions.

For most of us, those resolutions are thoroughly broken by the end of January – but it needn’t be that way. Throughout this issue of inplace we have focused on quick and easy resolutions you can really stick to, whether it’s five-minute tidying tasks or ways to improve your workplace.

We’ve also spoken to one of the world’s most reclusive philanthropists, Santa Claus, who tells us how he manages to make the dreams of millions of kids come true every year.

If, unlike Santa, you don’t have a list of perfect presents at hand, check out our gift ideas from pages 14 to 17. They’re guaranteed to make this year’s shopping that little bit easier.

Enjoy the magazine!

Gillian Gillian Serisier Editor

205,950

This publication has been independently audited by the Circulations Audit Board.

Audit Period: 01/10/2010 – 31/03/2011

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Before

news

Indulge Grapes with glamour!

Staying on track with your New Year’s resolution for a healthier you is a whole lot easier when you take your own lunch. To help you along the path, these stylish bags (to match every outfit) are insulated, easy to clean and come with a non-toxic ice pack to keep your salads crisp and your prawns perky. Newport Insulated Designer Bag: Black and White Geometric ($29.95) Bright Paisley ($29.95) Retro Giraffe ($24.95).

Champagne style

An electronic wine breather makes for amazing wine

You can be in the running to win one of five prize packs containing two Poach’ms worth $23.90 each! Just tell us, in 25 words or less, which Howards product saves you the most time.

To enter, simply visit the promotion page at hsw.com.au before February 1, 2012.

www.hsw.com.au

*The judges’ decision is final. Winners will be notified by email.

This is a game of skill, luck plays no part in the outcome.

Try this clever drying stand!

This year, the Howards team donned their running shoes, sun hats and sun-block to join the running masses in Sydney’s iconic City2Surf race from Sydney to Bondi Beach. Aside from being a whole lot of fun, they also raised over $14,000 for the Children’s Hospital at Westmead and Bear Cottage. Well done, Team Howards!

These amazing trolleys from Spanish company Rolser are leading the way in the trolley revolution sweeping Australia, as people say no to plastic bags and yes to walking. Plus, they look absolutely amazing!

Rolser Shopping Trolley ($209)

Romantic, beautiful and practical – in short, everything you need in a picnic basket for balmy summer evenings by the river, beach, or wherever you like to pop champagne.

The two person Champagne Picnic Basket ($99) comes complete with cutlery, champagne glasses, ceramic plates, napkins and a bottle opener (just in case you prefer wine).

Write in & win!

We love to hear your comments and ideas! email us: inplace@ hsw.com.au

Folds flat for super easy storage

Summer is the perfect time to accessorise.

With fabulous earrings and a great necklace any outfit is transformed in seconds. Keep everything in its place and ready to go with these Faux Leather Stackable Jewellery Trays (from $34.95, lids from $24.95).

City2Surf success

SAY HI!

Take your lunch to work in style with this sophisticated alternative to the classic lunch box. The Black + Blum Box Appetit ($39.95) is a watertight lunch container complete with a knife/fork combo and sauce container, perfect for sushi lovers! Carrying your lunch box is as stylish as it is easy in the Black + Blum Appetit Bag ($11.95), which doubles as a placemat and can be cleaned with an easy wipe down.

Love these!

Good wine deserves good care and nothing says “I love my cellar” more than a top-class bar kit. This Wine Bottle Bar Set will have you opening bottles like a pro in no time ($19.95).

Decanting a bottle can add a little extra something to its bouquet. The Decantus Aero Wine Pourer is designed specifically to get this delicate operation right. Team it up with a designer wine decanter and stand for a chic professional edge. ($29.95) One of the first wine skills to develop is how and when to let wine breathe. To help you along the way the Electronic Wine Breather ($49.95) makes life in the cellar just that little bit easier.

Of course, if Champagne is your preferred tipple, why not go in style with a fabulous Champagne Bucket? ($69.95).

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The insulated bag opens fully as an instant placemat!

Power lunch

The latest Howards news

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news

Bear Cot tage Bear Cottage is a medically supported home away from home providing support and respite for terminallyill children and their families. This Christmas, Howards Storage World will be selling bon bons to raise money for Bear Cottage. Bon bons will be available in boxes of six for $14.95. Each bon bon will contain a hat, joke and toy. All profits from the sale will go to Bear Cottage.

Encourage your budding MasterChef to take to the spatula with gusto! Get them looking the part and equipped to take on all sorts of exciting kitchen challenges with this fabulous Mastrad Kids Chef Cooking Set: 10 Silicone shape cutters, chef hat and apron, recipe booklet, spatula and sturdy case to keep everything in place ($39.95).

Be rewarded Become a Howards Inspirations member. Benefits include a $10 voucher when you enrol, plus a $10 Rewards voucher for every $200 you spend, valid for use in participating stores Australiawide. Being a Howards Inspirations Member means great offers, member-only competitions, VIP nights, fantastic storage solutions and great tips. Just visit a store to become a Member!

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inspiration

inspiration Seasonal Facts Prior to turkey taking off as the Christmas staple, pig’s head with mustard was a popular Christmas choice.

Christmas Crackers!

Keep your seasonal celebrations stress-free with these simple tips and top ideas for a cool Yule.

M

ake this Christmas stress-free, easy, organised and, above all, enjoyable.

To help you along the way, we have sourced some great time-saving ideas.

Making Chris tmas easier

Being well-prepared at Christmas is the key to a successful day. In the lead-up, the pantry is going to shift from everyday convenience to everyday lifesaver and having it well stocked and well organised is imperative.

Store everyday items on the most accessible shelves, while ingredients that have been bought for a specific purpose can occupy secondary space.

Stocking up on staples like chips, biscuits, crackers and soft drinks is also a must. But,

unless you want them to vanish before the guests even arrive, store them in storage tubs with lids, either on the bottom shelf of the pantry, or – if space is too limited – in the garage.

A good tactic is to plan some quick meals that involve the whole family, such as barbecues and picnics, and then stock up on what you need. Remember, if you have pickles, capers, olives, pasta, tuna and crackers in your pantry, you always have the basics of an instant meal.

Christmas cakes, biscuits, soups and sauces can all be made well before guests arrive, as long as you have good, airtight storage containers (which you might find will also come in handy for all of those delicious leftovers).

For a truly Aussie Christmas, make your salad dressing, seafood sauce and pavlova base the day before the party. You can even boil the potatoes for the potato salad if you have the fridge room!

Plan ahead

The key to saving time at Christmas is preparation. Shop early for gifts, wrapping paper and postage bags so parcels are ready for posting two weeks before Christmas. In the lead up to Christmas, pre-order anything you can to save time at the counter on those final days when the whole country is shopping.

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■ Vincent Gadan, macaron master.

Macaron trees.

You can never aim too high!

■ M-Cup Measuring Cups $19.95

Have fun

Recipe Transform your barbecued salmon into a culinary masterpiece with this timeless recipe.

Classic Hollandaise Sauce 5 egg yolks 2 tbsp lemon juice 2 tbsp water 2 tbsp sherry 2 tbsp tarragon vinegar 225 gm melted butter

Method:

Combine all ingredients except the butter in a double boiler and gently heat while whisking until creamy and the consistency of soft pudding. Remove from heat while continuing to whisk as you slowly add the melted butter.

Try adding a dash of Tabasco for a bit of zip!

Once it's time to take the mixture off the heat simply transfer (when cooled) to the Mastrad Mayonnaise Maker ($29.95) and swirl the butter in as a steady trickle. Nothing could be simpler, and you will look like an absolute superstar of the kitchen.

www.hsw.com.au

There’s no reason why kitchen tools can’t be fun and practical.

An adorable set of M-Cup Measuring Cups ($19.95) add a certain whimsical charm to cooking. Inspired by traditional Russian matryoshkas, the heavy-duty foodsafe cups stack together and nest neatly inside each other. The set includes six drymeasure cups ranging in size from a quarter to a full cup.

Entertaining essentials

Getting everything right on the big day is a whole lot smoother if you have the right tools. To help you along, Howards has come up with some great entertaining essentials.

Tired of seeing your tablecloth fly up in the wind, threatening to topple your Champagne? Try Mastrad Tablecloth Weights – handy in a set of four ($19.95).

Top tips for tempting macarons Macarons – dome-shaped biscuits made of egg whites and almond meal – have taken Australia by storm and these culinary delights are now seen at all the best dos!

Leading the way is Vincent Gadan of Patisse in Waterloo, Sydney, who as a recent guest on MasterChef charmed all with his French accent and incredible macarons. For Christmas this year, why not give macarons a go? Here are Vincent’s top three tips to get you started...

1

And while Vincent’s key piece of advice: “repetition is the mother of skill” is certainly true, having the right tools is just as important. The Mastrad Macaron Gift Set, has everything you need – from a great piping bag, complete with handy stand and assorted nozzles, to recipes and specially designed trays to give you uniform macarons every time ($59.95).

Macarons can be stored in airtight containers prior to filling. Once filled, they can be stored for about four days.

“The number one enemy of the macaron is humidity! Make sure egg whites are room temperature and almond meal is dry.

Try to avoid baking macarons when it rains!”

2 3 h oth eclot bllecl Tab trad d Ta ■ Mastra ■ Mas 5 .95 ght $19.9 Wei hts $19 Weig

“Give yourself plenty of time as this recipe is a long process.”

“Do not be scared to fail as macarons are very temperamental.”

Seasonal Facts Macarons are often confused with macaroons, but the two are not the same. A macaroon is a small meringue cake, typically made of coconut while a macaron is a dome-shaped biscuit made of egg whites and almond meal! inplace magazine 7

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inspiration

personality inspirations quiz Seasonal Facts If you received all gifts listed in ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ you would receive 364 presents!

What's Your

Organisational Style?

Kitchen masterclass!

Low use items at the top, high use items at the bottom!

■ Snack and Store $39.95

■ Cold Bowl on Ice $54.95 and Dip on Ice $24.95

If you’re picnicking or just setting the table, the Cold Bowl on Ice ($54.95) and Dip on Ice ($24.95) will keep your prawns and oysters perfectly chilled and fresh.

Keep that scrumptious Christmas ham fresh, moist and cute as a button with the very clever Pig Ham Bag ($14.95). Just moisten in a mixture of water and vinegar before storing your ham for perfect results!

Ever wondered where to put your pistachio shells or olive pips? Snack and Store ($39.95) is a great serving dish with a built-in area for waste, so no more wandering around with a handful of shells.

les A range of colours makes Flip Sca en! kitch any for a match

■ Pig Ham Bag $14.95

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Every year, a good chunk of Christmas is spent in the kitchen, but don't let it be a strain. Instead, simply glam up the space and enjoy the lifestyle of a celebrity chef!

Get the look of slick shows like MasterChef with an easybuild Custom Cooking Station ($340). Plus, the fewer steps you take around the kitchen, the quicker you’ll be able to rejoin your guests.

■ No Spill Mill Season everything to $69.95 absolute perfection with a twin chamber No Spill Mill by Joseph and Joseph ($69.95), which – due to its designer looks – also makes it an extremely classy gift.

While you’re looking like a superstar in the kitchen, why not complete the scene with Soehnle Flip Scales ($39.95), which come in a range of sensational colours to ensure you measure your ingredients with precision – especially helpful after a couple of glasses of seasonal wine!

Unfortunately, with guests and food comes washing up. Why not give a mundane task a funky twist with a designer dish rack, that’s bound to be a talking point when people are gathered in the kitchen. Try the Black + Blum High and Dry ($79.95). It may not make the actual washing any more fun, but as your guests make their way home you can feel secure in the knowledge that you’re the hostess with the mostest. ■ inplace ■ Black + Blum High and Dry $79.95

■ Soehnle Kitchen Flip Scales $39.95

www.hsw.com.au

Even famous people have to tidy up after themselves occasionally, so which A-lister do you most resemble?

F

iguring out your personality type goes a long way towards happy organisation. Simply put, if you most closely resemble the rational personality type, how you organise your wardrobe is going to differ hugely from those with an artisan temperament. So, what’s your style?

, To find out your personality type ... test k take our quic How do you look at problem solving?

A Notice problems, but don’t always act on them B Find solutions by joining forces with others C Have a tendency to be introspective D Become absorbed or even dwell on problems How would someone else describe your general mood?

A Cheerful B Sombre C Enthusiastic D Calm Do friends compliment you the most on being….

A Artistic B Informed C Perceptive D Objective When it comes to your wardrobe are you….

A Sensual B Sensible C Intuitive D Logical If you answered mostly As you probably B, have an Artisan personality type, if it was ider cons C, For . dian Guar a you’re more like yourself an Idealist and if D was your majority choice you are probably a Rationalist personality type.

Rational

Artisan

This personality type loves systems – as long as there is a logic to every process they’re happy.

Logic is the key to your organisation and, as such, it’s important to know why a system is going to work for you. This means thinking about paths and consistencies. For example, you would take quiet satisfaction in arranging your films alphabetically by director, then alphabetically by title – an age old system, precise, accurate, objective and logical.

Celebrity similarity: John Malkovich

Entertainers, composers, PR agents and creative types all tend towards this personality type.

These people are the ready-for-anything risk takers who live in the moment. They are also connoisseurs of aesthetics and tend to surround themselves with objects of beauty.

In their eyes, everything is organised as long as it looks good. This means that beautiful arrangements are going to work for you. It also means you don’t like clutter and will tend to have one great jacket over three or four from past seasons.

Celebrity similarity: Robert Downey Jr

Idealist These heartfelt individuals strive for world peace and the rights of all with zealous passion and determination.

The idealist temperament is driven by intuition and improvement.

You really want everything to be perfect; however, intuition rather than logic is going to guide your systems.

Having the right things grouped where they’re useful is what makes perfect sense to you. Intuitive organisation means putting the laundry powder beside the washing machine and the tea beside the kettle.

Celebrity similarity: Gwyneth Paltrow

Resolu tion : Know your organisational style

■ easy-build Custom Cooking Station $340

Guardian These are the great social administrators of the world who constantly seek social justice and responsible action. They are also entirely practical and solution-driven within a rigid ethical model that revolves around the greater good of the community.

Your organisational model is practical, so expect your systems to be solution driven and focused on the most efficient way to do things. You also like getting on with things and for you this means having everything in order and ready for action.

Celebrity similarity: Angelina Jolie

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11/10/11 1:30 PM

planning

interview

Resolu tion : Be prepared

Who better to help you plan for Christmas than a professional caterer?

Everything’s Catered For

Preparation is key to a stress-free Christmas!

S

arah French, of Sarah French Boutique Catering and Events, is no stranger to the turmoil of providing food to hungry fashionistas, luxury boat owners and a range of exclusive corporate clients. So, naturally, she has a few tricks up her sleeve. “To do my job well I need to be highly organised, highly motivated and extremely focused,” says Sarah.

“I live by the motto ‘everything has a place’.”

To help you tackle Christmas this year, Sarah recommends getting everything down on paper as soon as possible. “The first thing you can’t do without is a plan. I’m a list girl; I have a list for everything,” she says.

Her second top tip is that it’s never too early to start planning: “Start thinking about the menu now. Put together shopping lists, get in touch with providores and put your orders in.”

In particular, Sarah recommends preordering any hard-to-get or high-value items 10 inplace magazine

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like free-range turkey, caviar or truffles. She also highly recommends pre-ordering an ice delivery, as running down to the petrol station is the last thing you need to be doing on the big day.

Checking inventory is also essential for a stress-free Christmas. Sarah suggests going through your kitchen well ahead of time to make sure you have sufficient platters, napkins, mixer drinks and alcohol, as the shops become impossibly busy close to Christmas.

She also highly recommends good storage for all those delicious Christmas treats, but warns: “Organise everything into containers, keeping it safe so it doesn’t get eaten first.”

Her final piece of expert advice is for the day before Christmas: “Make sure you get all your trifles, tiramisus and puddings ready,” says Sarah, who knows the value of a dessert that can be made in advance! ■ inplace

Sara h’s Ch rist ma s Che c klis t Six Weeks Before ❑❑ Make a master gift list ❑❑ Draw up a budget ❑❑ Start shopping in earnest One Month Before ❑❑ Do any online shopping ❑❑ Wrap gifts as you buy them ❑❑ Take stock of your decorations ❑❑ Check dishes and glasses ❑❑ Start addressing Christmas cards ❑❑ Send overseas cards Three Weeks Before ❑❑ Mail cards ❑❑ Decorate! ❑❑ Finalise menus ❑❑ Order a turkey or ham ❑❑ Mail out-of-town presents Two Weeks Before ❑❑ Buy a live tree ❑❑ Shop for non-perishable items One Week Before ❑❑ Deep clean your house ❑❑ Buy batteries for children’s toys ❑❑ Shop for fresh ingredients Two Days Before ❑❑ Set the table ❑❑ Start cooking ❑❑ Buy fresh flowers Christmas Eve ❑❑ Recharge the batteries on your camera or video recorder ❑❑ Finish last-minute wrapping ❑❑ Finish cooking ❑❑ Sit back and relax!

■ Raspberry chocolate fudge cake.

www.hsw.com.au

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different by design

XXXXXXXX

■ The Cube is statement architecture on a grand scale.

New Age Parking © Make Architects

■ A series of mechanical rails move cars into the correct position.

■ Inside, The Cube has the feel of a glittering jewellery box.

■ The building is at its most impressive from above.

How do you park 339 cars in the smallest space possible?

Easy, just create a system where the cars park themselves.

W

e’ve all suffered the unpleasant experience of being stuck in a car park, endlessly circling in search of a space. It’s one of life’s biggest frustrations.

Such problems are a thing of the past in the UK’s newest skyscraper, The Cube, which boasts one of the most sophisticated car parks in the world: drive to the entrance, get out of your car and stand in awe (or anxiety, if you’re a first timer) as the building whisks your car away and parks it for you.

Engineered around three underground floors, the space is able to accommodate 339 vehicles of varying size by transporting the cars on enormous automated lifts, which then store each vehicle within a multi-level stacking system. It’s the perfect solution for storing a large number of cars in a tight space in the most efficient manner possible.

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What has most pleased the architect behind the project, Greg Willis, are the surprise benefits: “In a traditional car park you have scrapes and crashes because it has to be designed in a compact way.

This design has none of that. There are no difficult corners for drivers to negotiate.”

“Not only has the ‘prang’ factor been removed, but car theft is impossible” As well as removing the ‘prang’ factor, car theft is next to impossible and there’s no need for the The Cube’s users to find themselves wandering around a dark car park late at night searching for their vehicle.

This last issue has been especially well resolved with the creation of a luxurious lounge, complete with a video link showing each car’s progress on video as it’s retrieved, so even waiting is a pleasure.

A couple of minutes later, out pops the vehicle – spun around so it’s facing in the right direction and ready to go.

It’s an exceptional piece of engineering, entirely befitting such a visually-stunning piece of architecture.

Precisely 53m in every direction, The Cube’s exterior is made of anodised aluminium to mimic the industrial roots of Birmingham. The interior is a glittering cocoon of polished surfaces to echo the area’s jewellery industry.

It seems clear that The Cube will be a gem for years to come. ■ inplace www.hsw.com.au

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gifts for kids

gifts for kids Forks in four cool colours means no one gets the wrong one!

Healthy for school

1

Teach your child a healthy habit for life by showing them how to grow something to eat. Tomatoes picked fresh from the garden will give them a great sense of achievement.

2

Get your kids into the habit of eating fruit, simply by having it on hand and ready when they are.

Basically, fruit in the fridge will stay put while fruit in a bowl gets snapped up.

3

Keep the Kids Smiling

Awaken your child’s inner chef with a fabulous fondue set. Totally groovy, totally easy and totally funky!

■ Mastrad Fondue Set ($34.95)

Making the children in your life smile is the true joy of Christmas. It’s easy with these gift ideas.

These utterly brilliant Gingerbread cookie cutters (the ABC is for “Already Been Chewed!”) come with built-in bite marks to stop people nibbling your treats.

XMAS GIFTS

Hey, who’s been eating my gingerbread man?

Healthy exercising habits aren’t just for kids, so get the whole family involved with walking, swimming or riding bikes on a daily basis. Remember, kids learn from example, so get up and out and into the day!

4

Provide your kids with some straightforward kitchen rules, but let them experiment and discover their inner chef. Who knows – you might have the next Nigella Lawson or Neil Perry lurking behind that spoonful of cake batter!

Nothing says playground chic like a great lunch box, so start your child’s year right with a lunch pod complete with Cool Coolers for a nice, chilled meal. Now that’s cool! Kids Smart Portion ($8.95) Cool Coolers Ice Pack ($14.95 set of 4) Kids Lunch Pod ($11.95) Little Dipper Snack Container ($9.95).

Chilled dips make fruit fun!

BACK TO SCHOOL Can also be used individually

These designer Aladdin Bento Boxes (from $24.95) can keep soup hot in one section and a salad crispy in another thanks to double-wall foam insulation.

The school morning rush will be much easier with these hilarious shower caps in your life.

No more will you have to wrestle the children into the bathroom – in fact, the biggest problem could well be getting the kids out of the shower again!

■ Shower Cap $12.95 each

Side hook for hat or coat

■ ABC Cookie Cutters G’Bread ($14.95)

Removable ice brick

What animal does your kid adore?

Make tidying fun for kids!

Give your kids a real head start this school year with an organised system where everything is sorted and under control. The elfa Freestanding Unit for Primary Students ($2,530) is perfect for study and play while the elfa Freestanding Unit for Secondary Students ($2,856) is a grown-up version, just right for teenagers on the go.

Every kid loves Dora the Explorer and Thomas the Tank Engine. But no kid loves tidying. Or, at least, that was until the launch of this range of pop-up hampers and wardrobe organisers.

■ Dora and Thomas, priced from $11.95 to $29.95

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www.hsw.com.au

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11/10/11 12:50 PM

gift ideas For casual dining with friends, nothing beats the great outdoors.

Unfortunately, the wind can soon see your napkins spread from sand to sea. If your special someone loves a great picnic, this stylish bamboo napkin holder will make a great addition to their hamper.

gift ideas Putting the fun into functional, these great Sticky Notes have loads of personality. Each sheet is a virtual powerhouse of communication. Use them. Reposition them.

Laugh at them. Just don’t lick them!

FOR THE KITCHEN

■ Simple Human Bamboo Quick Grip Napkin Holder $59.95

■ Knock Knock Sticky Notes $4.25 each

Gifts For Everyone Brothers, sisters, mums and dads – now it’s time for the rest of the family!

Keep a photo of a loved one on your desk!

Sleek, modern and designer, this amazing Joseph Joseph dish rack is the complete mini-makeover for any kitchen and makes a great gift for eco-aware homeowners. It’s also perfect for apartment living, where space is at a premium but good design is essential!

Few gifts give more than these charitable bon bons created to raise money for Bear Cottage – a medically supported home away from home for terminallyill children and their families. As well as bringing joy to any Christmas celebration, the bon bons bring home the message that life's not the number of years you achieve, it's about the quality of the time spent with people you love.

■ Box of six bon bons $14.95

For that wonderful friend who always seems to be travelling, add a bit of bling to their adventures with these super sparkly rhinestone luggage tags in a great range of fashion savvy colours.

FOR THE TRAVELLER

■ Rhinestone Luggage Tags $24.95

■ Arena Self Draining Dish Rack $99

FOR PHONE FANATICS

FOR STYLE SEEKERS

Your brother or husband will love this travel wallet. It comes in three great colours, looks cool and is totally practical for travelling, whether he's jetting off or taking a short road trip.

■ Travelling Light Travel Wallet $32.95

WIN!

Designer items like thi s fabulous dove wall hook make great gifts for the fashion forward.

■ Birdseye Quad Hook $34.95

A real time-saver at airport security!

Dad loves the garage and doesn’t mind teetering on old buckets of paint to reach those high shelves. Since you love him, however, you’d probably prefer to see him without a broken arm – so why not indulge him with a fantastic folding stool that takes up far less space than a bucket of paint?

Here’s something for your favourite chatterbox.

This phone stand will let them know where their phone is at all times and when they're on the phone they can gaze at a picture of you!

Travel these days requires transparent bags for toiletries. However, that doesn’t mean cosmetics need to look anything other than fabulous.

■ Small Black Folding Stool with White Dots small $16.95, large $24.95

■ Phone Home-Mobile Phone Stand with Photo Frame $9.95

■ Borne Naked Traveller ($34.95) includes 4 x 50ml bottles & 2 x 15ml jars

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www.hsw.com.au

The perfect gift for any earring wearer, the Allure Folding Earring Screen allows dozens of pairs to be displayed without any tangling. We have five screens to give away, worth $34.95 each.

To enter, simply visit the promotions page at: hsw.com.au and finish the following sentence in 25 words or less: I enjoy being organised because...

Competition closes February 1, 2012. The judges’ decision is final. Winners will be notified by email. Terms & Conditions can be found online. This is a game of skill, luck plays no part in the outcome.

inplace magazine 17

11/10/11 12:52 PM

get the look

get the look Get the look: Howards delivers!

■ Labels help to avoid confusion.

■ Kay Palmer has a pantry to envy.

Shelf Improvement Pantry perfection can easily be a reality – as Howards customer Kay Palmer proves!

T

aking storage to a whole new level, Victorian retiree, Kay Palmer, has created the perfect pantry with an architect-designed shelving system.

Being organised is nothing new to Kay. “I just seem to be one of these people who want to be organised,” she cheerily admits.

As such, she has been slowly building her storage system over the years, but took advantage of a recent move to create the perfect room.

“We moved into our new house six months ago and we had the home designed for us,” says Kay. “I’d dreamed my whole adult life of having a pantry like this.”

The pursuit of perfection saw Kay turn up at her architect’s office with an armful of Décor storage containers determined to get it right: “I took the containers in to the 18 inplace magazine

18-19_HSW7_GetTheLook.indd 18-19

architect. He just looked at me a bit blankly to begin with, but then he ran with it too.”

Kay’s previous home had a walk-in pantry but the depth of the shelves meant containers were pushed behind one another.

Creating a bespoke design has allowed her to elongate the shelving system to a wide stretch of shelves designed to hold her huge collection of Décor containers perfectly. With shelf height determined by the height of her existing containers, she stores by size first, and then in alphabetical order.

Things like herbs and spices are grouped in smaller-sized containers, while bulkier items like sugar and flour are in larger containers on another shelf.

For super-orderly Kay, who prefers a great lunch with friends to a formal dinner party, the pantry allows her to do prep

Kay chose to use the Décor Tellfresh range for her pantry because of its undeniable high quality and the fact that the lids seal well.

“Because I buy my things from a wholesaler, they need to stay fresh. The lids seal very well so the ingredients have a longer shelf life. Plus, the containers wash well, they don’t stain and I really like the uniformity of them,” says Kay If you want to achieve a look similar to Kay’s pantry, consider the uniform elegance that a collection of Décor containers offers.

To get you started, the Décor Tellfresh 3 piece pack ($13.95) has three sizes just right for spice, nuts, sugar and flour.

Kay deliberately chose translucent products, which allow her to see key

ingredients at a glance and know what needs to be replenished. She has also labelled many containers, to make identifying key ingredients easy.

Yet another great range from Décor are the Realseal food containers, which have a silicone seal and vent for use in the microwave (150ml $3.75 and 250ml $4.95).

Another great look can be achieved with the wide range of Rosti Storers.

These Italian-made containers look chic, are airtight, dishwasher safe and also come in a range of sizes. The clear lid makes them terrific for drawer storage. (425ml $9.95, 2L $19.95).

To complete the look and have exactly the same convenience of Kay’s well-run pantry, labelling is vital.

The Brother P-Touch 1090 Electronic Labeller ($59.95) has some great features including large print size, time and date, plus you can use it to print on either durable laminated tape or fabric tape, for convenience.

■ Uniform sizes create the look.

■ Tellfresh Oblong Storers from $2.95

■ Realseal Storers from $3.75

Steam release vent

Everyday items are kept on the middle shelf for ease!

■ Cook Handy Storers from $4.95

work with all her vital ingredients and equipment close at hand, before doing the actual cooking in the kitchen. “I think I have designed the perfect pantry for me. It might not be the perfect pantry for everyone, but it is for me.” ■ inplace www.hsw.com.au

■ easy-build Custom Pantry Shelving Unit $1,720

inplace magazine 19

22/09/11 11:41 AM

makeover

Short on time? Here are 10 five-minute mess busters you can complete while the kettle boils.

W

e all want an organised home, but when to squeeze in all the little jobs that need doing? The answer is as simple as embracing the five minutes it takes for the kettle to boil. Next time you’re standing around in the kitchen, why not think about tackling one of these tasks?

Sink to new levels

A messy sink can be instantly organised with a Simple Human Sink Caddy ($36.95). Four suction cups provide a secure grip to your sink while removable plastic dividers store and organise sponges separately for faster drying. It’s quick, it’s easy and it’s so neat.

■ Simple Human Sink Caddy $36.95

6

2 The kitchen drawers are a great little project – try to do one a day for a week, starting from the top and working down. The bottom drawer tends to be the most difficult, so once you get to this drawer, be ruthless. Think about what actually belongs in there and stick to your plan as you sort and store. The rest can be redistributed or thrown out – after all, who really needs 500 twisty ties?

Laundry list

The shelf in your laundry is a good one to tackle when a washing cycle is almost finished. Take that five minutes to sort through the detergent, fabric softener, and bleach, and return spare pegs to the basket. Same-sized caddies bring instant order to this busy room.

Frozen assets

8

5

Bathroom brilliance

The bathroom cabinet is another great five-minute project. Check dates on all medication and dispose of any that are out of date. While you are at it, make sure any makeup you are storing is actually worth keeping. Apricot lip-gloss is never coming back into fashion. For the bathroom drawer, try a Howards Six Piece Organiser ($29.95).

The freezer is a surprisingly quick project. Get rid of anything that’s out of date, unsealed or not properly labelled.

Invest in a couple of Linus Fridge Binz (from $19.95) and group like items together.

Cleanest car by far

Socks appeal

Your wardrobe will take longer than five minutes, so tackle an easy project. Start with the socks and think about 'the good, the bad and the ugly'. The good socks stay; the bad with holes or no pair are binned; and the ugly are no longer your thing, so send them to the op shop! Try using Dream Drawer Dividers (from $36.95 per pair).

9

Basket cases

Tackling the cupboard under the sink makes a huge difference. Baskets are the key to making this one really easy: simply put all your cleaning products in one basket and your sink items in another.

To get you started, here are some great products for making five-minute projects a breeze.

A Make finding the right earrings easy with an Allure Folding Earring Screen ($34.95).

B Organise those winter parkas and quilts into neat stackable storage with a Space Bag (2 Pack: 1L, 1XL) ($29.95).

C 22 Pocket Organisers ($21.95) are fabulous for storing packet spices or sewing bits and pieces.

E

D Create a key home with funky Mastrad Large Suction Pods ($9.95).

D

E The York Tension

Shower Caddy ($179) will sort your shampoo, soap and loofah in a minute or less.

C

F Stack your baking trays and chopping boards in style with a Bamboo Plate Stand ($19.95).

G Marie Fridge Baskets make the most of every bit of space in your fridge ($4.95 medium, $6.95 large).

H

H First impressions count, so

Shoe your cares away

10 Every home has a spot where the whole family dumps their shoes as soon as they walk through the front door.

Luckily, a disorganised pile of messy footwear can be sorted out in minutes with a Lynk Mesh Shoe Rack ($49.95) which is both expandable and stackable, allowing it to grow as your family’s shoe collection increases!

“Next time you're standing around in the kitchen, why not try tackling one of these tasks?”

20-21_HSW7_5MinProjects02.indd 20-21

7

Killing time waiting for the kids to get out of school? Your car's glove box often turns into a receptacle for all sorts of odds and ends.

Try getting it in order while you wait – most of the stuff in there can either be thrown away or stored somewhere in your home.

Quick on the drawer

3

Nail the mail

Create a mini distribution centre for incoming mail with Dreamfarm Grip It Magnetic Strips ($29.95) and have a bin on hand for instant recycling of junk mail.

■ Oxo Interlocking Bins from $6.95

4

20 inplace magazine

B

A

Before

Resolu tion : Tackle 5-minute projects

Make it easy...

Fast Fixes...

1

makeover

After

www.hsw.com.au

organise your hall with the Umbra Flapper Coat Stand ($299).

F

G

inplace magazine 21

22/09/11 12:06 PM

holidays

holidays Resolu tion : Take the hassle out of travel

■ Annabelle Trends Glasses Holders $22.95

Travelling is meant to relieve headaches, not cause them.

Learn how to...

■ Collapsible Boot Organiser $27.95

■ Keep them busy and

keep them happy!

Make Travel Stress-Free W

hatever your holiday style, whether it be relaxing by a resort pool or outdoor adventuring, getting there should be as enjoyable as the destination. In fact, for many, the road trip is the adventure, so make sure it’s stress-free, well-planned and designed to work with your needs.

Organised travel

Being an organised traveller isn’t just about packing; it’s about planning, being realistic and having everything where you need it to be.

There’s something very exciting about travelling. Unfortunately, this often leads to packing way too much. The best way to beat this is to stop, sort and solve. The stop element is easy – just take a moment to clear your mind and take a fresh look at what’s in your bags.

Make a list of what you really need and check it twice. Using a packing list will make sure you not only cut down on items to bring, but also remember to bring underwear (you’ll 22 inplace magazine

22-25_HSW7_StressFreeTravel04.indd 22-23

never forget underwear twice, by the way).

With this new perspective, sort through your clothes and consider how you can mix and match outfits to create new looks without needing to pack two separate ensembles. A good tip is to pack to a colour scheme – if you build all your outfits around a specific colour, everything from jackets to shoes should be pretty interchangeable.

Solving the problem of excess luggage can be as simple as cutting down on redundant items or using a travel Space Bag to reduce the volume of the clothes.

However, there are other approaches, such as sending some cases on ahead – a great option for trekkers ■ Emele who only want to Portable Desk travel with what $24.95 they can use. Search 'excess baggage’ on Google to find Australian companies specialising in this.

Did You Know?

Australia's land mass is approximately 7,692,030 km², so it'll take a while to explore it all!

■ Packing Cells in various sizes from $24.95

www.hsw.com.au

In the car

Australia is a great place for road trips, with some of the best journeys in the world right here in our own backyard – the Great Ocean Road, for example, with its magnificent views and cool breezes, or the stunning Savannah Way from Cairns to Broome.

One of the first basics of a good road trip is keeping everyone cool and hydrated.

The Fridge to Go ($44.95) holds 12 cans – or, if you prefer, a selection of sandwiches and choccy bars! – and keeps them fridge-cold for up to eight hours. If you’re partial to water, try a Bobble (1L $17.95). You can fill it anywhere and let the built-in filter do the rest.

Keeping things tidy in the car can be problematic if you don’t have the right tools.

One good solution to this problem is a Large Sticky Gel Mat ($14.95) which sticks

In the air

Taking to the skies sounds glamorous but the reality for many is a sore neck, lost baggage and endless security checks.

There are, however, some simple solutions.

Start with a clear toiletries bag and small travel bottles. This allows you to instantly show security what liquids you are carrying – we love Borne Naked ($34.95) for this.

Next, clearly label all your bags with glamorous Rhinestone Luggage Tags ($24.95 each).

Make sure you don’t get stung for excess baggage charges by making a wise investment in an Accura Travel Scale ($19.95), which can weigh any bag up to 40kg. Makes an unusual Christmas present!

For on-board comfort, take along a

■ Money Belt $19.95

■ Accura Travel Scale $19.95

“Being an organised traveller is about planning, being realistic and having everything where you need it to be” to the dashboard and holds everything from sunglasses and mobile phones to iPods.

Keeping rubbish contained is an essential; try a Litter Shute ($11.95) for an elegant alternative to a garbage bag.

Entertaining the kids is another key to maintaining a relaxed atmosphere, so divert them with interesting items stowed away in an Emele Portable Desk ($24.95).

A fabulous way to keep your suitcase under control is with Packing Cells (from $24.95), which can be arranged to match your needs at each destination. Try having one for each day for each child. The kids love it and you know they’ll stay organised!

Neck Squidgy from Annabelle Trends (from $24.95) and get your passport and foreign currency safely out of the way in a Travelling Light Money Belt ($19.95).

After that, close your eyes and let the holiday begin!

■ Litter Shute $11.95

■ Large Sticky Gel Mat $14.95

■ Squidgy Strip Black from $24.95

inplace magazine 23

11/10/11 12:55 PM

holidays

holidays

In the caravan

Multi-tasking is the best way to save space in a caravan. For example, Tub Trugs (from $13.95) can stow towels while you’re travelling, and once you’re at the site and your towels are on hooks, can be used to carry firewood, be filled with ice for refreshments or even filled with water and utilised as a place to do laundry.

One of the best little caravanning luxuries to take with you is an airer; it takes up barely any room and can be used for drying clothes, airing ■ Versaline Traveler Airer $229 towels, keeping wet swimwear outdoors or ■ No Spill Jug to pack light, but you do have to even as a folding station. from $19.95 The Versaline Traveler pack small. The perfect way to Airer ($229) is one option; shrink your belongings is with a complementing this, a Travel Space Bag ($14.95 for a Pop Up Hamper ($12.95) pack of two). Just remember, no stores flat and takes up matter how much you think you next to no room, but becomes can squeeze in, it's better to pack a great receptacle for keeping a little less. dirty clothes away from your nice Storing food in the caravan is about saving dry outfits! time and keeping your holiday stress-free.

With your own caravan, you don’t have Spill Proof Jugs ($19.95 1.8L and $24.95 2.2L)

“Everything will eventually dry. The only things that last forever are the memories”

Stays cold up to 8 hours!

■ Travel Space bag pack of two $14.95

Tips for stress-free international travel Check the latest travel advice for your destination on the website smartraveller.gov.au and subscribe to receive free e-mail updates.

1

Make sure your passport is valid and you have all the appropriate visas before heading overseas.

2

■ Tub Trugs from $13.95

are a must for transporting fruit juice and milk and can even be stored lying on their side.

Ultimately, holidays are about family fun and that sometimes means laughing when everything gets wet or someone falls in the mud. The trick is to remember that everything has a solution: clothes can be washed, mud can be scraped off, and everything will eventually dry. The only things that last forever are the memories.

Mind you, failing that, keep some GoToobs (from $9.95 each) loaded with shampoo and soap nearby! ■ inplace

Carry extra passport photos in case your passport is lost/stolen and you need to replace it while away.

3

Don’t travel with lots of flashy jewellery.

Chances are nothing will happen, but why risk it?

4

Register your travel and contact details online before travelling overseas, or at the local Australian embassy, high commission or consulate once you arrive, so the government can contact you in an emergency.

6

If you’re heading through an airport, pack your toiletries in a clear bag for easy security checks.

7

Relax. You might as well.

Delays happen, luggage gets lost. Like it or not, it’s all part of the experience.

8

■ Hanging Toiletry Bag $39.95

Make copies of your passport, credit cards and other travel documents.

Keep one copy safe and leave a copy with someone at home.

5

■ GoToob from $9.95 and 3 Pack for $27.95

■ Fridge To Go from $29.95

Reader story: Tony & Tenille When Tony & Tenille Bateman from Myaree WA were planning a caravan trip across Australia, they approached Howards for advice. Tenille was keen to create a functional kitchen, with bench space and pull-out drawers. With limited room, they didn’t want to carry a knockdown table or trolley, so we took a look at their camper trailer and came up with the idea of using the swing door as the kitchen.

For Tenille, it was the perfect answer to a difficult problem: “My husband had no trouble putting the unit in and it works a treat! We had the sides tack-welded to make it extra sturdy and put ocky straps over the baskets to stop them from moving while travelling. We tested it out last week and it was fantastic!”

24 inplace magazine

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www.hsw.com.au

We wish the two ‘happy campers’ a

inplace magazine 25

11/10/11 1:00 PM

digital declutter

digital declutter

e-Clutter Clean-up

Once your computer is in tip-top shape, take a look at these fun and funky new Howards products to tidy up your desk too.

Resolu tion : Declutter your digital life

Desktop Friends 1

It may just be a collection of pixels on a screen, but electronic junk can be a real cause of stress.

2

V

irtual clutter can often create as much stress and anxiety as physical junk. An overstuffed email inbox, thousands of unread feed items, unsorted music, random photographs and a desktop covered with unnecessary files are all forms of ‘e-clutter’.

Decluttering your virtual world requires a little time and organisation. No matter how large the project, start small. Clear one area of your digital life at a time and you'll soon have a great system that works for you.

A good place to start is the inbox and the eradication of junk mail. Spam (unsolicited bulk emails) can be dealt with by finetuning the junk mail settings of your inbox.

However, a lot of the ‘junk’ we receive is actually delivered because, somewhere along the way, we gave a company we were happy to deal with our contact details.

To resolve this, search by sender and, if you haven’t bothered opening their correspondence in a week, it’s time to find the ‘unsubscribe’ button at the end of the message. Creating a junk folder that deletes anything more than a fortnight old is another good move for eradicating e-clutter.

Putting people in their place!

Another great strategy for inbox management is an automated filing system.

Did You Know?

It’s estimated that junk mail accounts for almost 200 billion messages globally per day. In other words, junk mail makes up around 80 per cent of all emails!

Create files that apply to work, family and friends and, as emails come in, they will be filed immediately. This has several advantages; firstly, it clears the inbox of unimportant email and makes cleaning away e-trash simple. It also makes it easier to find what you’re looking for down the track.

Keeping the screen squeaky-clean Now to your desktop. With each folder on your computer capable of holding a million other folders, getting this system right is important. A simple approach is to create folders by name, starting from general, then becoming more specific with each layer. For example, you might have a folder named Photos; inside that would be a list of folders named for the year; and then within each year the folders may be date, event or person specific. In this system, the file trail to a recent celebration could be Photos > 2011 > November > Melbourne Cup. Of course, the more specific you are with folder names, the easier it is to locate information later.

Don’t store more than necessary!

As the World Wide Web gets bigger and our capacity to download increases, what once seemed like an incredible amount of storage can suddenly seem altogether minuscule.

This is particularly true if you need to save large files such as video footage, which can quickly eat up the gigabytes.

Because filing and storing virtual information is easy, there is a tendency to store more than is ever likely to be revisited.

So, be ruthless. Go through those files and ditch the 20 versions prior to the final copy.

There is also a tendency to save multiples.

28 inplace magazine

28-29_HSW7_eClutterA.indd 28-29

www.hsw.com.au

“Decluttering your virtual world requires patience.

No matter how large the project, start small . Clear one area of your digital life at a time ” This can largely be avoided with a good filing system but, where duplicates exist, send them to the trash. Once you have completed a clean out, remember to empty the trash, otherwise your computer will continue registering the content.

Divert to disc or copy to the cloud?

External hard drives are another way to save large pieces of information. For most computers this simply means attaching a device and transferring information before deleting from the hard drive.

An alternative storage technology that is starting to take off in Australia is cloud computing. Simply put, this is internet storage supplied by a third party service, which holds everything that would normally be stored on the computer. Effectively, this means the computer is freed up to download and utilise information at its optimal speed. It also allows access to all your data from any computer at any time. ■ inplace

3

Boris is perfect for keeping your desk neat and tidy while your mobile phone charges.

1

Connect four devices to one computer port!

The Rapstrap is reusable and extremely neat!

4

■ Boris $19.95

iCushion is an award-winning stand that also keeps earphone cables and USB charging cords organised at all times.

2

■ iCushion $6.95

Hub Man is a charming design that allows you to connect up to four USB devices to one computer port.

3

■ Hub Man $19.95

The Rapstrap was a recent winner on the BBC’s Dragons' Den. This flexible fastener is the perfect replacement for the ubiquitous nylon cable tie.

4

■ Rapstrap Organisers $4.95

inplace magazine 29

22/09/11 11:52 AM

interview

A Wonderful Life You can’t make and deliver four million toys to kids around Australia without being organised. How does Santa do it?

W

ith 378 million presents to make, wrap and deliver worldwide each year, Santa Claus has his work cut out for him. Being organised is essential to his success, so we’re thrilled he’s managed to make some time for a chat.

“Christmas for me starts on the 26th of December. Every year I have to know exactly what I’m going to do right from the start,” he says, with a chuckle.

Sharing his best tips with our readers, Santa suggests starting early with a list of people lucky enough to receive a gift this year: “Getting the right gift is important, so think about who you are buying for and choose with love. When you’re shopping or making presents, try not to get distracted by choosing too many gifts for yourself. Mind you, I always keep a couple of spare gifts on hand for unexpected moments!”

As many of the gifts Santa’s team create take some time to put together, proper organisation is paramount. “We make the gifts throughout the year and keep everything crossed that there isn’t a last minute fad in the run up to December. Remember the Buzz Lightyear craze? That nearly did it for me!”

To make life easier, Santa creates a flow chart that outlines what will be needed, with key dates, so he never forgets anything.

“For example, I love baking gingerbread at Christmas, so I include it on my chart.

After all, it’s easy enough to store flour and sugar, but keeping gingerbread men fresh is another story. I have to constantly check their freshness. And Mrs Claus can get quite cross if I eat too many!" says Santa with just a few gingerbread crumbs in his beard.

30 inplace magazine

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www.hsw.com.au

Once the elves have been through every single child’s gift requests and Santa has consulted his records about who has been naughty and who has been nice, the presents are gathered together in handy Tub An easy-build Trugs ready for wrapping.

Wrapping Station To keep everything flowing and Tub Trugs, smoothly, Santa likes to have each worth $705.50 elf’s supply of paper, ribbons, cards and sticky-tape stockpiled early to avoid any last minute rush at the shops. “One year, the elves ran out of sticky tape with three million presents left to wrap – we had to use gum from the pine trees to hold them all together,” says Santa with a ho ho ho. “Now we keep a dozen or so spare rolls on hand!”

For convenience, each elf in the wrapping division is allocated an easy-build Wrapping Station: “It really speeds things up,” says Santa, “Plus, I like the elves to be really comfy while they're working – it’s an elf and safety issue – after all, they have a lot to think about. Princess Polly doesn’t want her doll wrapped in sport-themed wrapping paper and I’m sure that Jimmy Snail Eater We have one sensational (and would hate it if we accidentally gave him the elf-approved!) wrapping station to give gold brocade with a tasselled ribbon!” away. Great for gifts at Christmas and Wrapped gifts are placed in secret locations hobbies/craft for the rest of the year. around the world, ready for Santa to collect To enter, simply visit the promotions on Christmas Eve. “Getting to Australia takes page at: hsw.com.au and finish the a bit of time, so I like to head off early to make following sentence with 25 words or less: sure there’s a surprise on Christmas morning.”

With an average delivery time of 822 Howards is the perfect destination homes per second, speed is critical. “Yep, it’s for Christmas shopping because... a big ask,” Santa grins, “but I usually manage Competition closes December 12, 2011. The judges’ decision is final.

Winners will be notified by email. Terms & conditions can be found it. After all, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas online. This is a game of skill, luck plays no part in the outcome. without a little bit of magic!” ■ inplace

Win!

inplace magazine 31

22/09/11 11:53 AM

workplace

The average person spends almost 2,000 hours at work every year, so it’s important to ensure it’s a pleasant and organised environment.

After

Three shelves of storage – and just look at that clean desk

Download this template from insider.hsw.com.au

O

ften, we’re too weighed down with work to realise our systems are failing and need to be rethought. But there is always a solution. Here we look at some ingenious methods of sorting your personal workspace, as well as that often-disastrous shared workplace location – the fridge.

■ Laminate the name tags.

The Workspace

Using the Stop, Sort, Store method, we transformed a crowded and dysfunctional workstation into an organised system that now gives its owner, Ricky, access to everything he needs without leaving his desk.

Stop

We started by reviewing the problem. This is a vital first step for a long-term set of solutions. Stop, look at the situation, and think about how it could be resolved. What items should be immediately at hand? How can the workspace be more efficient? For Ricky, the best solution was to create a clear workspace by getting the storage off the desk.

Sort

Next, we separated Ricky’s work material into components based on priority: jobs in progress;

Make sure there is a communal area for items such as milk

“Stop, look at the situation and think about how it could be resolved”

Resolu tion : Organise your workplace

Working Wonders

workplace

With a No-Spill Jug you can rest your liquids on their sides!

jobs pending approval; and reference materials and CDs. These categories could be translated to any situation. Take your home office; “Jobs in progress” could equate to bills that must be paid; “jobs pending” might be receipts; and “reference material” may be recipes and clippings. The aim is to sort your workspace contents into groups, from what needs to be at hand to less frequently used items.

Store

Now for the fun part. For Ricky’s workstation, we used the easy-build System ($533.50) to create a three-shelf storage area with hooks and shelf dividers to keep everything in place.

Next, we filed his jobs in order of need in a set of eight Viola File Organisers ($21.95 each).

These look great and allow him to shift a set of files on and off his desk, depending on the job. The CDs were stored in a One Touch Box ($49.95) that holds up to 120 CDs, looks smart and makes finding the right CD much easier.

Before

■ Viola File Organisers $21.95 each

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www.hsw.com.au

The Work Fridge

Ever been to the fridge at work to discover your sandwich has disappeared or is lost in the rubble of containers, paper bags and questionable leftovers? It can make you want to give up and head to the café up the street.

Howards’ Group Office has tackled this problem with a system that’s been in place with great success for over a year. “The beauty of the system is that everyone can use it,” says Howards Organisation Expert, Cathy Player.

Like any of the best systems, it’s incredibly straightforward. First, you laminate a list of

names and stick it to the fridge. Next, create laminated name tags and stick them on the original sheet of names with Blu-Tack.

Now, fill the fridge with baskets. Basically, you come in with your lunch, select an empty basket and pop your lunch inside, sticking your name on the front. When lunchtime comes, simply slide your basket out, and voila – untouched and unsquashed lunch, as pristine as the moment you made it.

When the basket is empty, leave it in the fridge and put your name tag back on the fridge door. “Nothing could be easier,” says Cathy. “Simply download the template from insider.hsw.com.au and you can have the solution up and running right away!” ■ inplace

After

Inspirations offer!

To help you organise your work fridge, Howards has a great offer for all our Inspirations members. During December, buy four Marie Fridge Baskets ($4.95 each) and get an extra one free!* Not already an Inspirations member? Simply join in-store today to take advantage of special member offers, memberonly competitions, workshops, events and more! *Available to Inspirations Members only. Offer only available in December 2011. While stocks last.

inplace magazine 33

11/10/11 1:32 PM

product focus

XXXXXXXX

Howards Storage World stores For the full store list, visit: hsw.com.au NEW SOUTH WALES Albury 587 Dean Street (02) 6021 3644

Let the Chips Fall

So, you thought all potato crisps were unhealthy. Well, think again!

Three to six minutes is all it takes for delicious, healthy chips!

Did You Know?

The world’s largest crisp was created on June 3, 1991, by the owners of Pringles. It was 63 x 35 centimetres and weighed 153 grams.

■ Kit includes slicing mandolin .

Artamon Home HQ North Shore (02) 9437 1955

Shellharbour Stockland, Shellharbour Square (02) 4297 0811

Bathurst Bathurst City Centre (02) 6331 4044

Tuggerah Westfield Tuggerah (02) 4353 9066

Belrose Homemakers Supa Centa (02) 9986 2480 Bondi Junction Westfield Bondi Junction (02) 9387 5733

QUEENSLAND Aspley Homemaker City Cnr Gympie Road & Zillmere Road (07) 3862 7633

Brookvale Warringah Mall (02) 9907 2200

Cairns 327 Mulgrave Road (07) 4054 4966

Burwood Westfield Burwood (02) 9744 8077

Fortitude Valley Homemaker City North 650 Wickham Street (07) 3216 0222

Campbelltown Macarthur Square (02) 4627 5222 Castle Hill Castle Hill Supa Centa South Building (02) 9634 4200 Coffs Harbour Park Beach Plaza (02) 6652 4848 Erina Erina Fair (02) 4367 0433 Hornsby Westfield Hornsby (02) 9987 2700 Kotara Homemaker Centre 150 Park Ave (02) 4952 9333

ker $39.95 ■ Mastrad TopChips ma

W

hether baked or fried, crisps cooked in oil with lashings of salt are absolutely, can’t-stopat-one, delicious. Unfortunately, they are not terribly good for you and tend to be fattening to boot. For a fabulous and slimming alternative to oil-cooked crisps try whipping up a batch in your microwave with a Mastrad TopChips maker.

There’s lots to love about this new product from Mastrad, which will have you creating sweet potato, beetroot, swede and even parsnip chips in no time. Comprising a silicone sheet with perforations and a rippled bottom, plus a single gauge mandolin, there isn’t much that can go wrong. Slice your carrots, potatoes and apples, and then lay them flat in a single

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“For a treat, try sprinkling apple chips with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon” layer and microwave for between three and six minutes, depending on your oven. The result is crispy, delicious, healthy chips free of fat, oil, salt and preservatives.

Getting kids to eat healthy snacks is always tricky, but the fact you can make chips from all sorts of vegetables, as well as fruit, creates a whole new healthy lunch box addition. After all, not much is going to beat beetroot chips as an impressive playground item at lunchtime.

For a treat, try sprinkling apple chips with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon – just a tiny bit goes a long way and, in moderation, this delicious addition is still a pretty healthy alternative to anything in a packet!

If flavoured chips are more to your palate, Mastrad Chips are a great way to play with a range of flavours that don’t include numbers or unpronounceable names. Salt absorbs flavours well if left in an airtight container over a few days – try a squeeze of lime and a few sprigs of thyme. Alternatively, a dash of soy will give a great oriental flavour. Just make sure the mix is dry before you sprinkle it on, unless the chips are going to be eaten immediately. For an adult twist, sprinkle your sweet potato chips with a Cajun blend of spices comprising equal parts cayenne, paprika, salt, oregano and a pinch of chilli powder for extra pizzazz! ■ inplace

www.hsw.com.au

Rutherford Hunter Supa Centre (02) 4932 4655

Moore Park Homemaker Supa Centa (02) 9697 2777 North Ryde Macquarie Centre (02) 9888 6655 Northbridge Northbridge Plaza (02) 9958 4699 Port Macquarie Port Home Zone (02) 6584 3500 Rhodes Rhodes Shopping Centre (02) 9736 3111 Rouse Hill Rouse Hill Town Centre (02) 8883 2577

Helensvale Homeworld Helensvale (07) 5502 6677 Jindalee Homemaker City (07) 3279 2611 Logan Logan Hyperdome Shopping Centre (07) 3209 8846 Mackay Kay Court Retail Centre (07) 4942 0228 Maroochydore 50 Plaza Parade (07) 5479 3833 Robina Robina Town Centre (07) 5575 7133 Rockhampton Redhill Homemaker Centre, Cnr Richardson Road & Yamba Road (07) 4928 6511 Springwood The Logan Mega Centre (07) 3209 2777 Toowoomba Harvey Norman Centre OPENING DECEMBER!

Townsville Domain Central (07) 4779 9411 Upper Mt. Gravatt Westfield Garden City (07) 3422 2003

SOUTH AUSTRALIA Gepps Cross Gepps Cross Centre Home HQ (08) 8162 9160

WESTERN AUSTRALIA Bunbury 175-181 Blair Street (08) 9792 4880

Mile End Homemaker Centre 122 Railway Terrace (08) 8152 0400

Cannington Shop 1, 38 William Street (08) 9356 3511

Mt Barker Adelaide Hills Homemaker Centre (08) 8391 4755 Norwood NEW STORE! 220 The Parade Opening September!

TASMANIA Hobart 140 Liverpool Street (03) 6234 8422 VICTORIA Chadstone Chadstone Shopping Centre (03) 9568 6200 Cheltenham Westfield Southland (03) 9583 9155 Essendon Homemaker Hub (03) 9374 2903 Maribyrnong Highpoint Shopping Centre (03) 9318 1855 Mornington Peninsula Lifestyle Centre (03) 5973 5399 Nunawading Home HQ, 372 Whitehorse Road (03) 9894 8411 Richmond Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre (03) 9428 4060 South Wharf Homemaker Hub (03) 9682 0911 Shepparton Riverside Plaza Shopping Centre (03) 58235877 Springvale NEW STORE! Springvale Homemaker Centre NORTHERN TERRITORY Darwin NEW STORE! Shop 20, Jape Homemaker Village (08) 8948 2088

Like to know a little more about Howards Storage World? Become a Howards Facebook fan or follow us on Twitter. Visit our website to join: www.hsw.com.au

Karrinyup Karrinyup Shopping Centre (08) 9244 4333 Mandurah Shop 2, 65 Reserve Drive (08) 9583 4900 Myaree Primewest Melville, Shop 8, 276 Leach Highway, Melville (08) 9317 8700 Rockingham 2 Commodore Drive (08) 9528 5044 Southern River Cnr Ranford Rd & Boardwalk Bvd (08) 9394 0900

Success Cockburn Gateway Shopping City 816 Beeliar Drive (08) 9499 1018 GROUP OFFICE No. 4 Forest Central Business Park 49 Frenchs Forest Road Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 Tel (02) 9452 8888 Fax (02) 9452 8899 mail@hsw.com.au e-SHOP hsw.com.au eshop@hsw.com.au 1300-ESHOP-1 INTERNATIONAL STORES Now open in: New Zealand, Dubai, Singapore, Spain, Ireland, Philippines, India, Norway and the U.K. Visit: hswgroup.com

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All care is taken to ensure that product information and pricing in this magazine is accurate at the time of print (September 2011). However, some modifications to product specifications may occur. It may be necessary to adjust prices up or down and we reserve the right to do so. All prices are recommended retail prices only. Due to the popularity of the lines shown, some products may become out of stock or in some instances be discontinued. Listed prices include GST and do not include accessories where shown. Some products may require self-assembly. Some items may not be displayed in all stores, but may be ordered. Valid for Australian stores only. Howards Storage World® Registered trademarks of Howards Storage World Pty. Ltd. ©

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