One of the secrets to keeping a well-organized home is to have everything in its proper place, right? No stray object and no accumulated junk. I’m not much of a housekeeper but I know enough to realize that the slow accumulation of junk is the fastest way to put your house in a topsy-turvy situation. One thing about house design in the Philippines is the lack of ample storage. Attics and basements are not among the features of basic house designs. In a way, it is a good thing too because you’re obliged to get rid of things you don’t really need. Bought a new living room set? Then, go and sell the old one. That kind of thing.
Organization does not only apply to large pieces of furniture, appliances and equipment. It applies to little things as well. Like spools of thread and needles which are best kept in a sewing kit. Pencils, pens, paper clips and other writing paraphernalia belong in a desk organizer. Books belong on bookshelves. Even arts and crafts supplies ought to be stored separately. Sam and Alex used to dabble in beadwork and look how we organized their beads for making earrings and bracelets.
Common household tools like hammers, screwdrivers, pliers and the like should have a proper place too — often in a toolbox. And when someone mentions the word “toolbox,” the image that often comes to mind is something heavy that properly belongs in a tool shed or the garage. For some reason, the word is associated with masculine activities whether in the context of hobbies or chores.
Speedy has an assortment of toolboxes. I think he has one in each car and some are in the house. He has them in different sizes and the contents vary. Go read an older post about how much of a collector he is to better understand. But we had a deal when we moved to this house. We agreed that if he wanted to keep his interminable collections, he would at least keep them out of my sight. Simply put, my idea of a relaxing home does not include nuts, bolts and rolls of cable among the decor.
Of course, it wasn’t meant to deprive him of his thing for his collections. I have my computer and photo equipment, Sam has hers with too many DVDs to boot, Alex has her art supplies, the girls and I keep separate book collections, and Speedy has his own kind of collections. There are cupboards under the stairs, they were meant to serve as a pantry, but even before we moved here, Speedy already announced that all the cupboards were his. Did I object? No, I did not. If it meant keeping his collections invisible, I could keep all the kitchen and pantry stuff in the kitchen cabinets and under the kitchen island. And I did. I still do. I figured we could have a proper tool shed built later on where he could tinker with his collections to his heart’s content.
A few days ago, Speedy brought home another toolbox. Plastic with a partitioned compartment on top. It didn’t look heavy-duty so I figured he did not intend to store any heavy stuff in it. When I found out how he intended to use it, I raised no objections when he kept his new toolbox by the bed. If I simply told you how he uses it, you probably won’t believe me. So, I took photos.
That’s Speedy’s new toolbox.
That’s the partitioned compartment on top — all still empty at this point. But deep inside the toolbox?
He keeps an assortment of biscuits. Now you understand why I don’t mind having the toolbox next to the bed.
before or after midnight snack?
i’s say that’s a treasure chest.. hehe..
ahahaha. Toolbox pala ha.
I’ve been eyeing those toolboxes in hardwares and now that you’ve mentioned it, I now have a way to organize whatnots.
Re: lack of storage area in pinoy houses: My eldest sister and I so agree with you. That’s why my small home office has now become a bodega.
hahaha! i love that
JMonreal, anytime snack hehehe
Gigi, that might encourage him to buy a bigger one mwahahaha
Lemon, yeah, that’s something I can’t understand. I know that most housing projects are low budget but, surprisingly, if you hire an architect to draw up a plan, unless you specify you want storage, it still won’t be included. Like storage is a “special request” feature.
Yami, so does Speedy. Sodo the kids, actually. I’m the only one here who isn’t a biscuit eater.
Connie,baka susunod,a small fridge for his drinks.
This is how I want to end my day…laughing!!!
Ah I don’t think he’ll get another fridge — he’s allergic to anything that consumes electricity. hahahaha
Great idea! Hindi kaya magalit sa iyo si Speedy? Binubuking mo sya?
Hindi binubuking ang tawag dun. Ini-immortalize hahahaha
ang daya, yung nasa front page photo e yung bead toolbox nyo. hehehe
anyway, i like the way you emphaSIZE your page navigation. people don’t usually click them but later ask for details. hahaha
Effective yung beads photo, di ba? Mwahahaha
funny!!! si dady meron ding stash sa tabi ng kama nila ni mamy. not as unusual like a toolbox kse clear jar lang. pero mas sinful yung stash nya kse hershey’s kisses. sabi ng lola ko minsan daw chocolate squares. hahahaha! mga dady talaga, so funny. sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite! ito pala ibig sabihin non. hehehe!
LOL sana hindi langgamin yung chocolates nya.
Hahaha! How organized indeed! The problem now siguro is – if Speedy will be eating biscuits in bed – paano yung mga crumbs?
I agree with lack of storage space in Philippine homes. Kaya siguro mabenta ang mga plastic drawers kasi yun na lang ang madalas gamitin pag wala nang available space.
Wala yatang crumbs pag si Speedy kumain hehehe Simot lahat? nyahaha
Re lack of storage: Just look at the junk that litter most carports. Most house designs don’t even have provisions for hanging laundry — and it’s not as if clothes dryer is common in the Philippines.
ha ha. ang galing naman ng “toolbox” na yan
Dahil kay insan, naalala kong bumili ng Jolly when I went to the grocery.
Nice one!
Ilang flavors? hehehehe