Less Mess, More Yes

DIY Sandbox

By Michaela Coyle of Sterilite Corporation

Are the kids already getting stir crazy this summer? Are you running out of ideas to keep them entertained? Well, as a kid I had so much fun playing in my sandbox and your kids will too! This DIY sandbox is super easy to create and should help keep them busy for a few hours!

All you need is a plastic storage container, sand, and some beach toys! The Sterilite 60 Quart ClearView Latch Wheeled Underbed Box is the perfect size. Plus, it has wheels which makes it easy to transport back and forth from the house to the backyard.


Next, you’ll need to order your preferred sand. There are tons of options on Amazon and at your local hardware store such as Home Depot or Lowes! OR, if you’re in a pinch and don’t have time to wait for Amazon or drive to a store, you can make it with these simple, edible ingredients: Flour and vegetable oil. The recipe is super simple: 8 cups of flour to 1 cup of oil (can also use baby oil), mix it up and voila!


You can even use the sandbox in the house - I know what you’re thinking, “That’s going to make a mess!” - but the high walls of the container help to contain the sand. So if you simply put an old blanket or sheet down under the sandbox, it will prevent sand from getting all over the house. You can also use this in the backyard or on a porch or deck.

Once you have the sand in the container, just grab your kids favorite beach toys, trucks, shovels etc.. and scatter them in the sand and let them play!

Attention All Soccer Moms!

By Shannon Fahey of Sterilite Corporation

Fall is such a beautiful time of year. The weather begins to cool down so you can bring out your sweaters, jeans and scarves again. The leaves start to change colors into beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows. And fall sports are in full swing! 

If your kids play a fall sport than you know how exciting this time of year can be! However, you also know that it can be a bit stressful too. Whether it is soccer, football, field hockey or volleyball, there is always an activity after school - either a practice or a game. Therefore, you are probably spending a lot of time driving to and from the field. Remember that carpools are a lifesaver! Switch off with the other parents on who drops off and picks up.

As the kids get older, there becomes more and more practices and games. Especially if you have more than one kid playing sports. It is no longer just a practice during the week and a game on the weekend. This means there are more opportunities where your kids comes home and take off their cleats, shin guards and socks and leave them out to stink up the house! Soccer equipment smells more than you could ever imagine. It is just as bad as football and hockey equipment. You can smell those things from a mile away. However, what if you could find a way to combat the smell of soccer equipment this fall?! With a little help from Sterilite, now you can. The whole family will thank you!


Attention all soccer moms! (And any and all sports parents in general). Here is some firsthand advice on how to deal with your kids smelly equipment after a sporting event. As soon as the kids get in the door, it is important to tackle the problem right away. Once they take off all their equipment and you send them up for a shower, throw their socks and uniform straight in the wash. Otherwise, these too will stink up the house. If you are not doing laundry that day, let the clothes air out on the back deck or driveway for a bit before throwing them in the hamper. This will help alleviate the smell.

Now it is time to address the main source of the smell. Normally, you just put away their cleats and shin guards with the rest of the shoes in the mudroom. However, this does not solve the problem. The next time they go to soccer, their equipment still stinks and so does your entire mudroom. Well, Sterilite has the answer to your sports equipment dilemma - our line of Fresh Scent Boxes!


The next time the kids come home from a long day of sports, take advantage of Sterilite’s 15 Quart Fresh Scent Boxes. Set up one box or multiple boxes, depending on how many little athletes are in the house. You can even label the Fresh Scent Boxes with each child's name. Simply place a dryer sheet in the top ventilation compartment, and have your kids keep their cleats and shin guards in there when not in use. This way, you never have to scramble before a sporting event trying to find their equipment, and it will help eliminate the smell! What more could you want?! 

College Survival Kit!

By Natalie Aguilar of Sterilite Corporation

Searching for a personal, useful and affordable gift for a recent high school graduate moving to college this fall? Well look no further! With a little help from Sterilite you can create the ultimate College Survival Kit with all of the essentials they’ll need for their freshman year of school.

Graduating high school and starting college can be overwhelming and getting used to a different place that isn’t your home can be frightening.  Therefore, giving a gift that adds a personal touch will mean so much to them! Whether this gift is for your child, sibling, or friend the Sterilite College Survival Kit is ideal for anyone starting college this fall!

Be creative! Any of our Ultra Laundry Baskets makes the perfect base for a personalized goodie basket. Not to mention they can use this basket for all of their laundry needs while living on campus. My personal favorite is the 1.25 Bu HipHold Laundry Basket. It comes in two great colors, and the contoured shape makes it comfortable to rest on your hip. This is perfect when going up and down multiple flights of stairs to the laundry room in your freshman dorm. 

Once you pick out a laundry basket, fill it with some of their favorite treats, a little piece of home, and some college essentials. Try to customize it with some of their personal favorites. For example, if they play sports you can fill the basket with headbands, a water bottle, or any equipment needed for the given sport. You can also try adding some fun picture frames, their favorite snacks, room decorations or a warm fuzzy blanket and fun pillows to make their room feel more like home.


In addition to personalized items, every incoming freshman needs the college essentials, especially if they are living on campus. To help, simply go to your local discount store or shopping center and pick out some everyday essentials that a college student would need!

Here are some ideas to help you out:
          • Notebooks
          • Pens/ Pencils
          • Instant Food
          • Candy/ Snacks
          • Tumblers
          • First Aid Kit
          • Clothing Hangers
          • Towels

Moving away to school can be hard, so having a little piece of home can be very comforting. That is why this personalized gift using our Laundry Basket is perfect for anyone moving into campus this year.

DIY Beverage Float

By Shannon Fahey of Sterilite Corporation

There is nothing more relaxing than a beautiful summer day at the pool! Whether it’s your backyard pool, a neighborhood pool or a friend’s pool, it is hard to beat. The beach is amazing but it can be such a hassle. You wake up early, get the kids ready, pack lunches, and load the car up with beach toys, only to sit in a long line of traffic. This can make for a stressful day. Also, beaches are just so crowded, especially on a hot summer day. It can be really hard to find a parking spot or even a place to sit on the beach. If you go to the pool, you don’t have that problem. You can lay back and have some you time!

As your kids are busy playing in the pool for hours, you can lay out in the sun and read a good book or jump into the pool to cool off. You could also grab a magazine and a float to lounge in while the kids are splashing around. However, for ultimate relaxation, you shouldn’t have to get out of the pool to grab a drink for you and the kids. What if drinks were right by your side?

Check out our awesome DIY Beverage Float to fix this problem. This way you will always stay hydrated and relaxed. Simply follow these easy steps below to create this fun item for your next pool day.

1) Use a plastic container such as Sterilite’s 16 Quart Storage Box for the base.
2) Find a fun colorful pool noodle. Then, cut the pool noodle into 4 pieces to fit the edges of the plastic container.
3) Cut half way through the noodle pieces and then attach them to the edges of the plastic container. Use a hot glue gun for extra stability.
4) Fill with ice, add your favorite drinks, and place the float into the pool!

It is as easy as that! Now you will have a perfect floating beverage holder with you in the pool for drink access at the tip of your fingers.

Happy Floating!

Mom's Secret Guacamole Recipe!

By Shannon Fahey of Sterilite Corporation

Avocados are all the rage recently. From avocado toast to avocado ice cream, people are putting them in everything possible! Everyone knows that the best way to use avocados is for guacamole, no doubt about it. My mom hands down makes the best guacamole. When she brings it to parties, people are in awe of how good it is. I always hear people go around the party asking “Who made the guac?” “What is your recipe?”. She is literally famous - everyone who knows her, knows that her guacamole is the best.

So what’s her secret? I am going to tell you so maybe you can become famous with your friends for the best guacamole too!

Mom’s Chunky Guacamole Ingredients:

• 5 Ripe Avocados
• 1 Tomato
• 1 Clove of Garlic
• ½ Lemon Juice
• ½ Jalapeno Pepper (if you like it spicy)
• Sea Salt and Cayenne Pepper to taste

Instructions:
1) Peel and pit the avocados then cut them into small chunks. No need for conformity or mixing.
2) Squeeze ½ of a lemon on the avocados for a little citrus flavor.
3) Cut the tomato into small pieces and then dice the jalapeno. Add to the avocado mixture.
4) Mince the garlic then add to the mixture.
5) Add sea salt and cayenne pepper to taste. The cayenne pepper is a must, it is definitely the secret ingredient of this recipe!

Mix all of the ingredients in the Sterilite Ultra Seal 5.8 Cup food storage container so you are ready to serve. Pair it with your favorite tortilla chips and you are good to go! Now you can bring the guacamole to the party wherever you go and store the leftovers with ease. The chances of leftovers are very slim though. This healthy and delicious snack will be gone in minutes!

Big Surprise for Dad this Father's Day!

By Shannon Fahey of Sterilite Corporation

Father’s Day is coming up quick! Kids are almost out of school and summer is just around the corner but you can not forget to celebrate dad. Dad is a busy man, but always makes time to cheer the kids on and support them in everything they do. Whether it is a sports game, a musical or just giving some fatherly advice, he is there.

You always have a similar routine on Father’s Day. The kids make dad breakfast in bed; with a little help they are able to make some surprisingly delicious French Toast. They give him a card but the tricky part every year is what to get dad? Shopping for mom is much easier. You usually get her some jewelry, a candle or a nice new shirt. But you are never really sure what to get dad. However, this Father’s Day is going to be different - surprise dad with a garage makeover!

When you and the kids send him off to have a relaxing golf day with his friends, it is time to start the surprise. This surprise can be as extravagant or as small as you want. You could do a complete garage makeover or just pick a small area to organize this time. He will love it no matter what! Here are some easy ways to organize his tools, hardware, and sports equipment with a little help from Sterilite.

1. You know how much dad loves his tools. They are never in the right place in the garage, which is added stress he definitely does not need! Pick up his tools that are scattered around the garage and sort them. The Sterilite 4 Drawer Unit is great place to store them so they are super easy to find.

2. Next, you want to set up the Sterilite 5 Shelf Unit to organize all of the clutter in the garage. You need to make space for dad’s golf clubs when he gets home.  This shelf is also a great place to store all of the kid’s outdoor toys and sports equipment.

3. While you are setting up the shelf you can have the kids contribute by putting basketballs, soccer balls and all their sports equipment in Sterilite’s 25/50 Quart Shelf Totes. This is an easy way to have the kids help out with dad’s big surprise!

4. Often when dad is building something in the garage, he has to scramble to simply find 2 nails in the big mess. Now, all the small items that you can never find in your garage can go in Sterilite’s Mini Clip Boxes.

It is as easy as that! Organizing the garage is a task you just never have the time to do, even though it needs to be done. Dad will finally be able to pull his car into the garage again!

Happy Father’s Day!

 

Enhancing Your Dorm Experience - Part 1

By Chris Higley of Sterilite Corporation

This is Part One of a two part mini-series aimed at improving your life in a dorm, mainly through utilizing storage effectively and stylishly. This particular quick read focuses on organizing and storing your stuff. Plus, it gives you above-and-beyond ideas to keep your room fresh and smelling nice. 

Settling into a dorm room includes setting up belongings to suit your personal style and creating a comfortable living environment. In the midst of classes and other activities, life can get hectic and things will get messy. 

I can tell you these things from firsthand experience as I’m heading into my senior year at Bentley University, a four-year university in Waltham, MA. By trudging through my own learning curve, I have picked up tricks and life hacks for making dorm life easier. Whether you are an incoming freshman or already have at least a year under your belt, these tips can make your transition to living at school easier. Without further ado, here are a few ways to attain a greater peace of mind at your school living space. 

Organizing Your Way into Less Stress and Easier Living
One way to make your life easier for each of the challenges that face any college student living on campus is to use storage containers to transport and keep your stuff organized. Creating an organized dorm room can also reduce stress and improve the feeling of the dorm room for you and your visitors. 

A Fresh Way to Keep Your Sporty Supplies

Many students at college tend to be active, whether they are involved in academic activities, clubs or intramural sports. Taking advantage of opportunities outside of the classroom is fun and healthy. A drawback can be athletic equipment spread out around a dorm room creating a sense of near-chaos that can cause extra stress. If you’re anything like me, you want to reduce stress where you can.

There is convenience and peace of mind that the typical storage boxes bring you; and then there’s the next level up. Sterilite’s 32 Quart Fresh Scent Storage Box, which can fit under even a low set bed, is able to neutralize odors and provides a light, fresh scent with a compartment for your favorite dryer sheets. This comes in handy especially when storing frequently worn athletic shoes or cleats, baseball mitts and so on. Moreover, the securing latch supports a seal-like quality helping to conceal any unwanted odors. 

Having a fresh smelling dorm room can do wonders for your comfort, peace of mind and general living quality. Also, because most schools discourage flame in the room and room sprays can be a hassle; Reed Diffusers are a low-maintenance, long-lasting and affordable way to enhance the aroma of your whole room.

Pro-Tip for Stylishly Organized Storage
To conceal under-bed storage when your comforter doesn’t quite reach the ground, you can use a stylish blanket or fitting tapestry to make the storage space beneath the bed less conspicuous while adding your personal touch on the room. 

Storage itself can also look stylish enough, with stacking drawers or crates. Sterilite File Crates, like the ones shown in the picture, are a fun way to store and display your stuff that shows off your trendy side. You can put water bottles, books, laundry detergent or even your soccer ball in each of these crates. Did I mention they are easy to stack? This allows you to set them up however you want and further personalize this cool room feature.

Another helpful way to store items, like clothes and shoes, is with the different stacking drawers. Some great ones to use are Sterilite’s 6 Quart Stacking Drawer, the 16 Quart Stacking Drawer and 27 Quart Stacking Drawer. Again, the simple stacking feature allows for a customized stack, however you want to set up the drawers. A stack of a few drawers can fit under your dorm room bed, depending of course on how high your bed is. The clear front of each drawer makes it easy to remember what stuff is where and to easily find what you need. When everything has its place and you know where all your stuff is, life in the dorm room gets a lot simpler and more relaxing. 

I hope these tips will help to enhance your dorm experience. Stay organized, study smart and have fun! Keep an eye out for the next issue of this helpful series that will pop up before the end of the summer!

Planning A Perfect Picnic!

By Lauren Mason of Sterilite Corporation

The warm and sunny summer days are approaching and there is no better place to be than outside enjoying the great weather. It can be easy to fall into a weekend slump of lying on the couch and watching TV in the AC after a long work week.  However, lounging outside in the sun can be even more relaxing and you might even get a bit of a tan. With a beautiful weekend coming up and nothing else going on a, picnic seemed like the perfect idea to me.

Tips for a Spectacular Picnic:
It doesn’t take a genius to plan a great picnic. It just takes a little organization and some out of the box thinking. Here are some tips on how to make sure you can have a terrific picnic.

1) Don’t just grab a blanket – Instead, use a fitted bed sheet as your base. Put coolers and bags at each corner to hold up the edges of the sheet. This will create a wall to keep out bugs and dirt. You’ll thank me when there is no train of ants going through your food and invading your picnic.

2) Say goodbye to ice packs – Try freezing water bottles to put inside your cooler instead of using icepacks. This will give you extra space to pack more food.  The frozen water bottles will keep your cooler cold and you will have plenty of water to drink and stay hydrated after the ice melts.

3) DIY Snackables – This is one of my personal favorites. Use a mason jar and an empty fruit cup to create personalized on-the-go snacks. The fruit cup fits perfectly in the lid of the mason jar and depending on the snack, the cup can go on the inside or the outside. Some favorites are chips and salsa, veggies and hummus, and yogurt with fruit and granola.

This should be a good start for your picnic preparation. Now comes the fun part: What to eat! Obviously there are infinite options to choose from. It is typically best to stick with finger food. The simpler the better in my opinion! Here are some of my picnic food favorites:
        - Strawberry Lemonade
        - BLT Pasta Salad
        - Sandwich Kabobs

The pasta salad fits perfectly inside Sterilite’s Ultra Seal 6.2 Cup Round, and the Ultra Seal 5.7 Cup Square is ideal for sandwiches. I also used the Ultra Seal 2.2 Quart Pitcher for the lemonade (my personal favorite drink). The Ultra Seal line does an incredible job at keeping food fresh and secure. The tightly fitted lids are awesome for transporting your lunch to the picnic.

I hope you enjoy a beautiful day of snacking and laughing at your picnic! It is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.