Isn't it wonderful when something good just comes your way out of the blue -- when you were least expecting it? That's what happened to me while I was plowing through my email messages last week.

One of my faithful readers submitted 22 excellent organizing tips. And just in time. I was going to spend the afternoon writing my newsletter, but lo and behold, why should I do that, when one of my readers did it for me?

Hope you enjoy these 22 tips submitted by Janice Luczkowski from Birmingham Ohio.
Thanks a bunch, Janice -- you gave me an additional hour this week. What can be more precious than extra time?

Like most women, I work full time and try to keep family life organized and running smooth. My hobby has become finding the most efficient way of doing this, always looking for ideas and tips. Love the

1. Keep a box of trash bags in the bottom of the trash can so they are right there to replace after emptying trash.
   
2. Use a cheap dish washing bin on your freezer shelves. Each shelf can be categorized by food group. Easy to pull out of freezer when searching for items.
   
3. Freeze fruit juice boxes. By lunch time, those frozen drinks will be thawed and still cold.
   
4. Excess or aging vegetables in the bin such as onions, celery, peppers and carrots? Chop them up and put in easy open quart freezer bags. They'll be ready for future recipes and are also great for soups and omelets.
   
5. Store a stick of butter in a small microwaveable plastic container. Cook on HIGH for 5-10 seconds in the microwave to make it soft for easy spreading.
   
6. Keep basic baking staples in a small bin or basket, such as salt, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla and cinnamon. Keeping everything contained makes it easy to take to baking counter. Keep a set of measuring spoons in the bin also.
   
7. We all need daily fiber. Keep your Metamucil in a decorative canister on the kitchen counter.
   
8. Keep coffee drinking supplies on a lazy susan in the cupboard for easy access.
   
9. The drip coffee maker is a great tool to brew your tea also. Put a couple of tea bags in the carafe and let it brew while hot water drips.
   
10. During the day, the drip coffee maker can double as a candle warmer. Remove the carafe and warm your tempered glass contained candle.
    
11. A cinnamon candle (used on a candle warmer) can be refreshed by putting a cinnamon stick in the warm wax.
    
12. Decorative nesting mixing bowls should be left out, if counter space allows, for easy access.
    
13. When preparing meals, line your large mixing bowl with a plastic grocery bag. Toss scraps in the bag. Trash the bag and the bowl is left clean.
    
14. I love my homemade pot lid organizer. I took a discolored vinyl coated dish drainer and recycled it as my lid rack. I also added four small toy car wheels after cutting the front and rear wires to resemble the axles. It rolls in and out of the bottom cupboard nicely.
    
15. Keep cords from small appliances (especially curling irons) from twisting up. Fold the cord after each use in a six inch bundle--like when the appliance came out of the box. But, instead of using a twist tie, quickly secure the bundle with a ponytail or claw like, spring clip.
    
16. Use the plastic hair processing caps to cover most shapes of plates or bowls. Nice on a cut watermelon too. These are cheaper than brand name bowl covers. No need to wash. Just toss out after use.
    
17. Baby wipes . . .luv,luv,luv! Keep them by the toilet for personal freshening and quick cleanup of the bathroom itself. Grabs onto dust and hair on counter tops, floor corners and toilet clean-up after boys.
    
18. Grab those baby wipes again for dusting around the house. Wipe down the grungiest places, ceiling fans and trim work. No rinsing, just toss 'em out!
    
19. A free standing coat tree is great in the bedroom. Use it to hold robes, belts, purses and clothes that aren't quite ready for the laundry. Get hubby's clothes off the floor!
    
20. Trash the plastic cup that comes on most spray cans, like from cooking spray and hairspray. They have no more use once they've traveled. Then, you won't have to keep pulling it on and off each time. (Of course, keep these items away from young children.)
    
21. Or use it for something else. I've used those plastic cups from the spray can in my cosmetic basket to separate lip sticks and eye pencils.
    
22. Why mess with twist off caps? Many applicator tips from other bottles fit nicely on other products to make dispensing a little easier. For example, I have found that pancake syrup flip tops fit nicely on the liquid vegetable oil and the recloseable ketchup lids make an easy pour for my salad dressings and BBQ sauce.