Less Mess, More Yes

Decorating for the Holidays!

By Michaela Coyle of Sterilite Corporation

‘Tis the season to decorate for the holidays! I love this time of year because I get to decorate the house in all my favorite décor from the outside lighting and wreaths to the inside with garland and our festive tree. The house smells like warm apple pies and pine trees which gets the whole family in the spirit!

Every year around this time I find myself traveling to Home Goods before going through my already excessive amount of decorations and finding something I have to have and purchasing more décor!

And in order to decorate with bliss you need the right storage organization. I’m not sure about you but when it comes to organizing I like my storage items to be color coded to represent the season. This makes it easier to find exactly what you’re searching for and is the most aesthetically pleasing!

Last year I decided to get some new red totes, a wreath box and a light box in festive colors which were perfect for my holiday storage.

For the outside lights I used the Sterilite 4 Reel Light Storage Box and I love it! It’s perfect for avoiding a tangled mess and it has this bright, jolly red color for the lid! It holds all the lights I need to decorate the bushes in front of the house.


Moving on to my favorite, the wreath! I found the cutest wreath last year and was just storing it on top of other Christmas decorations, but I found the most perfect storage for it. The Sterilite Nesting Wreath Box keeps my wreath protected while being stored away at the end of the holidays! When I pulled it out to hang on the door this year, it was perfectly preserved.


Once the outside is complete with lights, reindeer, and all other décor needed this holiday season, it’s on to spice up the inside.

This huge Sterilite 50 G Modular Stacker is perfect for larger items I need to store away. I stored my tree stand, holiday blankets/pillows, and so much more. Next step is taking out my holiday items and decorating the house to create such a cozy feeling that friends and family can enjoy.

Having all of my holiday items stored in festive colors is great when you’re searching year after year to find your Christmas items. They’re bright and cheery and easy to find! And once it’s time to put everything away, you have exactly what you need to store them year after year.
So now it’s time for you to get the family together, make some hot cocoa and transform your home into a winter wonderland. Happy Holidays!

Undeck The Halls

By Cassie Beigel from Sterilite Corporation

It’s the end of December, all of the holiday festivities are ending and the New Year is right around the corner. Packing up my Christmas decorations is a task that I dread every year. Before I started using Sterilite items to store my Christmas decorations, I would just throw all my decorations in cardboard boxes and toss them in my very unorganized attic.

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to be more organized, why not start a week early and take on two birds with one stone by putting away your holiday decorations organized and efficiently! This way, you’ll know exactly where to find your holiday decorations and can pull everything out to decorate next year hassle free.

The Sterilite Stack & Carry 2 Layer Ornament Box is the perfect item to pack away my ornaments for the year. I have a wide assortment of ornaments, even some that are handmade. My collection is always growing with different shapes and sizes of ornaments I put on my tree! Thankfully, this ornament box has customizable dividers so every one of my unique ornaments has a space to be kept safe between the years.

After the tree, I’ll tackle packing away the indoor decorations I have on display such as stockings, Christmas candles, nutcrackers, garland, and much more. I use the Sterilite 64 Quart Latching Box (in red) to store all of these decorations over the years. The festive red colored lid and clear base shows me exactly what items I have stored away in the box, letting me know that I won't need anything inside the box until it’s time to decorate again next year.

Every year I find myself buying several rolls of holiday wrapping paper of different designs and patterns to wrap gifts for my friends and family. I never end up using all of it and I’m left with an abundance of holiday wrapping paper that I never knew what to do with until I found the Sterilite 30 Inch Wrap Box. This has been a great solution for me to store my wrapping paper neatly and to protect it so that it’s ready to be used when I need it next year.

We all know that packing up the holiday decorations is not something anyone looks forward to, but with these holiday storage items it will make the process a little more manageable!

Friendsgiving Brunch

By Cassie Beigel of Sterilite Corporation

Thanksgiving is slowly approaching and it’s time to start figuring out plans for how you’re going to celebrate. I tend to spend Thanksgiving day with my family, similar to many of you I’m sure. However, considering that my family is not the only people I’m thankful for, I love to celebrate with my friends too! Every year my friends and I plan a Friendsgiving before stuffing ourselves with turkey and mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving day, and this year we decided to make it a brunch.

I’m hosting Friendsgiving this year and the best way to take some stress off of hosting is if each friend brings a food of their choice! I always recommend using Sterilite’s Ultra Seal bowls when bringing food to an event because it’s perfect for keeping food fresh and sealed. Bringing something such as fruit salad, pumpkin bread, bagels, and pastries make for a delicious Friendsgiving brunch. The goal is to have so much food at your Friendsgiving that there are plenty of leftovers to send home with your friends! The wide range of sizes of Sterilite’s Ultra Seal bowls are guaranteed to hold whatever you bring, and any leftovers to bring home.

I decided to set up a waffle bar because who doesn’t love waffles!  Choose some of your favorite toppings for the waffles such as berries, chocolate chips, and sprinkles. Next, pour each topping into Sterilite’s 20-ounce bowls and serve yourself! A waffle bar allows your friends to customize exactly what they like on their waffles to ensure that everyone is satisfied.

Although delicious food is a major aspect of Thanksgiving, don’t forget the real meaning of the holiday- being thankful for the people and the things you have in your life. Let us know if you decide to get together with some great friends for brunch to celebrate Thanksgiving this year

Ghoulishly Great Gathering

By Tori Lind of Sterilite Corporation

Happy (almost) Halloween!

Halloween is my favorite holiday and I’m so excited to celebrate this year since last year it wasn’t safe due to Covid-19. If you are thinking about hosting a small gathering for the kids but not sure what kind of activities to do, keep reading!

Gooey Slime

I haven’t met a kid who doesn’t love making slime! It’s easy to make and will keep kids entertained for hours. Here’s what you need:

• Sterilite 20 Ounce Bowl
• Elmer’s Washable School Glue (about 6 – 7 ounces per bowl)
• Elmer’s Magical Liquid (about 2 -3 tablespoons per bowl)
• Fruit coloring (just a few drops)
• Googly eyes, fake spiders, glitter, etc.

Add about 6 – 7 ounces of glue into the bowl. Mix in 2 -3 tablespoons of magical liquid and a few drops of food coloring. Stir until slime holds together. Pick up the slime from the bowl and start playing! Add googly eyes, fake spiders or glitter to make it spooky!

Jack-o-lantern Bowling

This is a great activity to do when the kids have eaten too much candy and need to burn off some energy! You can either make this game yourself or get the kids involved! Here’s what you need:

• Sterilite 20 Ounce Tumbler
• Markers
• Dodgeball

Draw faces on the tumblers and set up them up like bowling pins or stack them. Have each kid stand a few feet away and see how many they can knock down. So easy and so fun!

Marble Mummies

This is my personal favorite! This craft is adorable and kids love the final product. Here’s what you need:

• Sterilite Small Pencil Box
• Mummy cut out stencil
• Black construction paper
• Scissors
• White paint
• Marbles
• Glue & googly eyes

Have the kids cut out a mummy on black construction paper. Place the mummy into the tomb (pencil box) and add a marble covered in white paint. Close the pencil box and shake, shake, shake! Once done shaking remove the mummy and glue the googly eyes on. Kids always get a good laugh when doing this!

When the gathering is over not only do the kids leave with big smiles and candy but also gooey slime and marble mummies! Let us know if you end up trying any of these and post on social media using #sterilitenation. Have a SPOOKtactular Halloween!

Seasonal Clothing Swap!

By Michaela Coyle of Sterilite Corporation

Living in New England can be challenging with the drastic weather changes but we’re also very lucky to watch the transitions especially Summer to Fall. And it’s that time of year again where the warm summer nights turn into cool sweater weather evenings. All those shorts, tank tops and summer dresses need to be put away to make room for the cozy Fall/Winter clothing and shoes. As much as I’m sad to see summer go, being able to wear comfy sweatshirts and leggings is always exciting for all of us “cool weather lovers”.

Picking the storage box is crucial for me for a few reasons:

• Clear storage is preferred so I can quickly find my clothes when it comes time to swap them out again
• Sturdy latches to ensure that the lid is secure to the base to keep my seasonal clothes protected
• Making sure they stack securely so I can utilize the most space in my basement

I bought the new Sterilite Hinge Lid Storage Boxes in both 60 Quarts and 80 Quarts. They share the same lid so they stack securely for efficient use of that vertical storage space!

The transitioning of clothing for seasons can be overwhelming but it’s such a good feeling when its neatly packed away in your storage boxes and you have a refreshed wardrobe to rotate throughout the colder months. So tuck away those tank tops and lighter clothing and put on some comfy clothes and enjoy watching the seasons change!

Camping Trip

By Michaela Coyle of Sterilite Corporation

Planning to escape for one more camping trip before it’s too cold? Make you pack everything you need and don’t forget your storage boxes and totes to keep everything safe and dry!

Packing for a camping trip can seem daunting and you may feel like you’re forgetting everything but as long as you have your essentials and good company, you are certain to have a great time. Here are some of my ‘must haves’ to survive a few days “off the grid”.

Packing List:

• Tent
• Tarp
• Sleeping Bags
• Extra blankets/pillows
• Matches
• Flash light/Batteries
• Folding chairs
• Appropriate hiking clothing
• Toiletries
• Sandals or moccasins
• Food/snacks/water
• First aid kit
• Portable charger

With all of these items to pack, you’re going to need some secure storage to ensure it lasts the whole weekend rain or shine. For my camping equipment and hiking gear I chose the Sterilite 27 Gallon Industrial Tote. The latches keep all of our supplies secure and the key holes allowed me to bungee cord the items when traveling and at the campsite.

Another must have is the Sterilite 32 Quart Gasket Box. This is great for storing your camping items away and keeping them protected. For my camping trip I used this storage box to store my food and other perishables. It kept all the moisture and pests out all weekend long!

 

Luckily I brought two gasket boxes and filled them with day trip items for a nice canoe ride down the river! We packed up some lunch and a backpack with the rest of the essentials and stored them in this secured water resistant storage box.

Being so prepared took a lot of time and effort but it was well worth it to enjoy the outdoors and some fresh air. Now get your camping supplies together and enjoy your weekend away in the wilderness!

Final Days of Summer

By Tori Lind of Sterilite Corporation

Who said summer has to stop after Labor Day? Here in Massachusetts, the weather is still pretty hot and it looks like the sunshine is planning to stay, at least for a few more weeks! My family is planning to take advantage of the warm weather and spent another weekend out on the lake. Below are my favorite, go-to storage items that are perfect for the boat.


The 20 Quart Gasket Box is perfect for keeping items sand and water protected. Not to mention, it’s super easy to transport. In this box I keep:

• Plastic utensils
• Plastic cups
• Paper plates
• Paper towels
• Trash bags
• Wipe

I love this box because it’s very slim so I can keep it on the boat all season long and then I can restock items as needed. It’s also super easy for family and friends to find things, thanks to the clear base and lid!

The FlipTop is a great small storage solution for any miscellaneous items! I try to stay stocked up on the following:

• Band Aids
• Advil
• Sunscreen
• Bug Stray
• Lip Balm
• Tissues

This is the perfect size container for the boat and can hold various other items including cell phones and small wallets!

It wouldn’t be a successful day out on the water without a yummy lunch. I love using the Ultra Seal 4.0 Cup and Ultra Seal 5.8 Cup. Both of these items are lightweight which is a win for me since I always end up carrying the cooler! We offer different sizes and colors of food storage containers so be sure to check them out to make sure you get a size that works for you.

Happy boating and enjoy the last few sunny days!

Back-To-School Teacher Appreciation Gift!

By Michaela Coyle and Tori Lind of Sterilite Corporation

September is here and school is back in session! Last year’s school year was difficult and terribly stressful for the kids, parents and especially the teachers. Virtual classrooms and parents trying to help by becoming the teacher’s assistant was the reality that everyone faced last year. But now the kids will be back in school buildings and hopefully get back to some normality!

In preparation for the first week of school, I felt it would be thoughtful to give back to those hard working teachers and help start off the new school year right with a back-to-school gift. For this teacher gift, I wanted to make sure that the whole gift could be helpful in the classroom, even the packaging, so I started with the Sterilite File Crate as my base.

The File Crate is a perfect storage solution for classroom organization. It not only serves as a cute way to package your gift, but the crate itself can be used in multiple ways!  

• You can flip the crates on their sides and interlock them to keep them secure, which creates a great bookshelf solution
• The crates also hold file folders so the teacher can keep papers and documents organized
• Lastly, what teacher doesn’t love a good DIY Crate Seat?!

Now pick some thoughtful essentials and fill up the File Crate! Below is what I included, but pick out items that you think your teacher will appreciate most!

• White board markers
• Starbucks gift card
• Post it notes, pens, highlighter
• Lysol wipes, hand sanitizer
• Tissues
• Gum/Mints
• Chocolate/candy treats
• Lotion

A nice added touch to your teacher gift could be some personalized labeling on some items and some colorful tissue paper to make it a little bit more fun! Whatever you chose to put together will most certainly put a smile on your teachers face. Have a happy and safe school year!

Water Balloon Fun!

By Tori Lind of Sterilite Corporation

August is a HOT month here in New England! To help keep cool and create some easy outdoor fun, consider buying a couple packages of water balloons. There are a TON of different games you can play and the best part is that all ages can participate. Keep reading to learn how to play a few of my favorite water balloon games.

To prep for all of these games, you will first need to fill up the water balloons. I suggest putting them in a tote, so they are easily accessible (this will also keep them from breaking before the games begin)! The 18 G Tuff1 Tote is the perfect size and allows multiple people to grab balloons at once. 

Leaky Water Relay:

Step 1: Divide into two teams and place two 12 Quart Spout Pails 30 feet away from the tote filled with water balloons

Step 2: Have an adult prick a small hole into two water balloons and give them to the first player on each team

Step 3: The player with the water balloon runs as fast as they can to the pail and releases the remaining water from the balloon into the pail

*repeat these steps until one team has successfully filled the pail with water!

Spoon Race:

Step 1: Divide into two teams and place two 12 Quart Spout Pails 30 feet away from the tote filled with water balloons

Step 2: The first player on each team grabs a water balloon from the tote and balances it on a spoon.

Step 3: Walk (or run) around the pail and back while balancing the water balloon on the spoon. If you drop the balloon, go back to the starting line and grab a new balloon from the tote and try again.

*the first team to have every person successfully bring back their water balloon without dropping it wins!

Water Balloon Toss:

Step 1: Divide into teams of two and face towards each other

Step 2: One player will get a water balloon and will throw it to their teammate

Step 3: Every time a team successfully catches and throws the water balloon they will take a step back

*the last team standing is the winner!

DIY Slim

Written By Natalie Aguilar, Photos By Michaela Coyle of Sterilite Corporation

Familiar with Slime? And no, I’m not talking about the legendary green liquid that’s poured on celebrities by Nickelodeon. The slime I’m referring to is comparable to homemade silly putty. It is a quick, easy and safe summer activity, that will be fun for both you and the kids! With 3 key ingredients, your slime is almost guaranteed to last you all summer long. After looking all over the internet and skimming through some YouTube videos, I found the ultimate slime recipe for you. Keep reading for a DIY Slime mixture that will be oozing with stretchable, squishy, and gooey fun!

Ingredients:

• Contact Solution (containing saline)
• Elmer’s Liquid School Glue
• Food Coloring and Glitter (optional)

Tools You Will Need:

• A large bowl, the Sterilite 8.1 Quart Ultra Seal Bowl is my favorite 
• Spatula
• Vinegar, for cleaning purposes
• Rags

Helpful Tips:
•Make sure that your contact solution includes boric acid as one of the key ingredients. This will ensure the slimy texture.
•There are no precise measurements when making slime as everyone’s texture preferences for their slime will be different. If the consistency seems off to you, adjust as you please!

Let’s Make Some Slime!
Step 1: Empty the whole bottle of Elmer’s School Glue into the Ultra Seal 8.1 Quart Bowl
Step 2: Add food coloring and glitter as desired and mix it all up!
Step 3: Keep stirring and slowly but surely the mixture will start to get thick and slimy.
Step 4: Next, add the contact solution to the mixture. Begin by adding this in ¼ cup increments, mixing well. Every time you mix in an additional ¼ cup, check the consistency with your hands. There is no right answer, simply add the contact solution until the mixture becomes the texture you desire.
Step 5: Finally, knead the Slime with your hands for 1-2 minutes, this will help it become less sticky, therefore making less of a mess for you!

Ready, Set, Road Trip!

Written By Natalie Aguilar, Photos By Tori Lind of Sterilite Corporation

It is easy to get caught up in the stress of work, school, family and just life in general. However, we have to remember to give ourselves a break once in a while and let our minds and bodies unwind and recharge. This summer, make it a priority to do something fun with your family, whether it’s a day trip or a week long vacation! Continuing reading for a few of my favorite road trip hacks.


On The Go Snacks
If you are anything like my family, you NEED to pack snacks. Heck, I have to pack snacks for a 15-minute drive to Target. One of my biggest pet peeves is when all the snacks are mixed into one bag and you have to dig to find something that perks your interest. That’s why I am always telling friends and family about the Sterilite Stack & Carry Layer Handle Box & Tray! This item is perfect for keeping everything organized and sealed, especially with you kids in the car. The person sitting in the back can find a snack, latch it up and pass it to the next person. Can it get any easier?!

Bonus: when you get to your destination, any uneaten snacks can be stored efficiently in the pantry or refrigerator for later!


First Aid Kit
Accidents happen, and although we try to avoid them as much as we possibly can, there’s no telling the future and what can occur. So, what’s the best thing you can do? Stay prepared! That’s why I always keep a first aid kit in my car. I drive a small SUV and hate having bulky things that I don’t use every day take up space. That’s why I use the Sterilite Flip Top to store all my supplies. Some items to stock up on are band aids, gauze, ibuprofen, motion sickness medicine, bug spray, and sunscreen.

Bonus: most hotel rooms and vacation homes don’t have a first aid kit so if anything ever happened you will be prepared!


I hope you all have an amazing summer and find some time for a road trip with the family and utilize these hacks!