FREE!inplaceSummer 2011 • Issue 7

simply organised

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

Perfect presents for tricky people!

A wrapping station worth $700 and

Poach’m products

WIN!

Travel plansMake every trip a

pleasure, not a chore

Gifts for everyone!

seasonSimplify the

Santa speaks, Russian delights, yummy recipes and more!

THE BESTSTORAGE

SOLUTIONSFOR YOUR

HOME!

magazine

Plus:

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From the EditorEvery 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 SerisierEditor

4 IndulgeThe latest news, products and promotions from Howards Storage World. 6 InspirationWith Christmas around the corner, here’s how to maximise festive spirit and minimise the stress.

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

10 Everything’s Catered ForOne of Australia’s most renowned caterers shares her secrets to a smooth Christmas meal. 12 Different by DesignTired of searching for a car space? Check out this building that literally parks your car for you. 14 Keep the Kids SmilingGive the little ones a Christmas they’ll always remember with these brilliant gift ideas.

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

18 Get the LookHowards customer Kay Palmer shows how you can turn your dream pantry into a reality.

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

22 Make Travel Stress-Free Travel should help relieve headaches, not create more. Ensure that’s the case with these hot tips. 26 From Russia With LoveJust a few clicks away from the North Pole, Russia is an astonishing Christmas destination.

28 e-Clutter Clean-upElectronic junk can be as cumbersome as real-life junk. Here’s how to get your e-life in order.

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

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

34 Let the Chips FallHow 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.

contentsIssue 7 Summer 201110

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GET IN TOUCH!We love to hear your thoughts!

email us at inplace@hsw.com.au

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inplace magazine 54 inplace magazine

news

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Before

IndulgeThe latest Howards news

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 Australia-wide. 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!

Bear Cottage is a medically supported home away from home providing support and respite for terminally-ill 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).

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).

Grapes with glamour!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).

City2Surf successThis 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!

Write in & win! 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.

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Power lunchTake 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.

SAY HI!We love to hear your comments and ideas!email us: inplace@

hsw.com.au

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)

The insulated bag opens fully as an instant placemat!

Folds flat for super easy storage

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).

news

Champagne style

Bear Cot tage

An electronic wine breather makes for

amazing wine

Try this clever drying stand!

Love these!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).

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inplace magazine 7www.hsw.com.au

inspiration

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

Make 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.

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

Classic Hollandaise Sauce 5 egg yolks2 tbsp lemon juice2 tbsp water2 tbsp sherry2 tbsp tarragon vinegar225 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.

■ Vincent Gadan, macaron master.

Macaron trees.You can never aim too high!

inspiration

6 inplace magazine

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

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!

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

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

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.

Have fun 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 food-safe cups stack together and nest neatly inside each other. The set includes six dry-measure 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

■ M-Cup Measuring Cups $19.95

■ Mastrad Tablecloth

Weights $19.95■ Mastrad Tablecloth

Weights $19.95

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inspiration

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.

8 inplace magazine

Kitchen masterclass!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 easy-build Custom Cooking Station ($340). Plus, the fewer steps you take around the kitchen, the quicker you’ll be able to rejoin your guests.

Season everything to 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

Low use items at the top, high use items

at the bottom!

■ easy-build Custom Cooking Station $340

■ Soehnle Kitchen Flip Scales $39.95

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

A range of colours makes Flip Scales

a match for any kitchen!

■ Snack and Store $39.95

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

■ Black + Blum High and Dry $79.95

■ No Spill Mill $69.95

■ Pig Ham Bag $14.95

Organisational Style?

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

To find out your personality type,

take our quick test... 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

problemsHow would someone else describe

your general mood?A CheerfulB Sombre C Enthusiastic

D CalmDo friends compliment you the

most on being….A ArtisticB InformedC PerceptiveD ObjectiveWhen it comes to your wardrobe

are you….A SensualB SensibleC IntuitiveD LogicalIf you answered mostly As you probably

have an Artisan personality type, if it was B,

you’re more like a Guardian. For C, consider

yourself an Idealist and if D was your

majority choice you are probably a

Rationalist personality type.

What's Your

Rational 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

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

Artisan 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

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

Figuring 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?

Resolu

tion: K

now your organisational style

inplace magazine 9

personality quiz

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Everything’s Catered For

■ Raspberry chocolate fudge cake.

Sarah 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 pre-ordering any hard-to-get or high-value items

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

Preparation is key to a stress-free

Christmas!

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

planning

Sarah’s Christmas Checklist

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!

Resolu

tion: B

e prepared

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inplace magazine 13

different by design XXXXXXXX

www.hsw.com.au12 inplace magazine

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.

New Age Parking

■ The Cube is statement architecture on a grand scale.

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.”

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

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

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

■ The building is at its most impressive from above.

“Not only has the ‘prang’ factor been removed, but car theft is impossible”

© M

ake

Arc

hite

cts

How do you park 339 cars in the smallest space possible? Easy, just create a system where the cars park themselves.

12 HSW7_DifferentByDesign.indd 12-13 22/09/11 11:37 AM

inplace magazine 15

gifts for kids

www.hsw.com.au

gifts for kids

Keep theKids Smiling

Forks in four cool colours means no one gets the

wrong one!

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

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.

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).

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

Awaken your child’s inner chef

with a fabulous fondue set. Totally

groovy, totally easy and totally funky! ■ Mastrad Fondue

Set ($34.95)

Hey, who’s been eating

my gingerbread man?

XMAS GIFTS

Side hook for hat or coat

What animal does your kid adore?

Healthy for school

1Teach 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.

2Get 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.

3Healthy 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!

4Provide 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!

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.

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.■ ABC Cookie Cutters G’Bread ($14.95)

14 inplace magazine

BACK TO SCHOOL

Make tidying fun for kids!

Chilled dips make fruit fun!

Removableice brick

Can also be used individually

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www.hsw.com.au

FOR THE TRAVELLER

FOR THE KITCHEN

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

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.■ Simple HumanBamboo Quick Grip Napkin Holder $59.95

gift ideas

Keep a photo of a loved one on

your desk!

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

16 inplace magazine

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! ■ Arena Self Draining Dish Rack $99

Gifts For Everyone

Designer items like this fabulous dove wall hook make great gifts for the fashion forward. ■ Birdseye Quad Hook $34.95

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

FOR STYLE

SEEKERS

FOR PHONE

FANATICS

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. ■ Rhinestone Luggage Tags $24.95

Travel these days requires transparent bags for toiletries. However, that doesn’t mean cosmetics need to look anything other than fabulous. ■ Borne Naked Traveller ($34.95) includes 4 x 50ml bottles & 2 x 15ml jars

inplace magazine 17

Few gifts give more than these charitable bon bons created to raise

money for Bear Cottage – a medically supported home away from home for terminally-

ill 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

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.

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!■ Knock Knock Sticky Notes

$4.25 each

A real time-saver at airport security!

WIN!

gift ideas

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

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inplace magazine 1918 inplace magazine www.hsw.com.au

Taking 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

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

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

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

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

■ Kay Palmer has a pantry to envy.

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.

Get the look: Howards delivers!

■ Realseal Storers from $3.75

■ Uniform sizes create the look.

■ Labels help to avoid confusion.

Steam release vent

■ Tellfresh Oblong Storers from $2.95

■ Cook Handy Storers from $4.95

get the look

Shelf Improvement

get the look

Everyday items are kept on

the middle shelf for ease!

18-19_HSW7_GetTheLook.indd 18-19 22/09/11 11:41 AM

www.hsw.com.au

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.

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

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

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 First impressions count, so organise your hall with the Umbra Flapper Coat Stand ($299).

7 Cleanest car by far 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.

8 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.

■ Oxo Interlocking Bins from $6.95

3 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.

4 Frozen assets 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.

6 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.

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).

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

10 Shoe your cares away 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!

makeovermakeover

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

1 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.

We 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?

20 inplace magazine

2 Quick on the drawer 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?

After

Before

Fast Fixes...

Make it easy...A B

D

C

E

H

GF

inplace magazine 21

■ Simple Human Sink Caddy $36.95

Resolu

tion: Tackle 5-m

inute projects

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holidays

Whatever 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

Make Travel Stress-Free

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 who only want to travel with what they can use. Search 'excess baggage’ on Google to find Australian companies specialising in this.

In the carAustralia 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

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!

In the airTaking 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

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!

Travelling is meant to relieve headaches, not cause them. Learn how to...

Did You Know?

Australia's land mass is approximately 7,692,030 km²,

so it'll take a while to explore it all!

holidays

“Being an organised traveller is about planning, being realistic and having everything where you need it to be”

■ Litter Shute $11.95

inplace magazine 23www.hsw.com.au22 inplace magazine

■ Packing Cells in various sizes

from $24.95

■ Large Sticky Gel Mat $14.95

■ Collapsible Boot Organiser $27.95

■ Squidgy Strip Black from $24.95

■ Annabelle Trends Glasses Holders $22.95

■ Accura Travel Scale$19.95

Resolu

tion: Take the hassle out of travel

■ Emele Portable Desk $24.95

■ Money Belt $19.95

■ Keep them busy and keep them happy!

22-25_HSW7_StressFreeTravel04.indd 22-23 11/10/11 12:55 PM

inplace magazine 2524 inplace magazine

holidays

www.hsw.com.au

Reader story: Tony & TenilleWhen 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!”

In the caravanMulti-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 towels, keeping wet swimwear outdoors or even as a folding station. The Versaline Traveler Airer ($229) is one option; complementing this, a Pop Up Hamper ($12.95) stores flat and takes up next to no room, but becomes a great receptacle for keeping dirty clothes away from your nice dry outfits!

With your own caravan, you don’t have

to pack light, but you do have to pack small. The perfect way to shrink your belongings is with a Travel Space Bag ($14.95 for a pack of two). Just remember, no matter how much you think you

can squeeze in, it's better to pack a little less.

Storing food in the caravan is about saving time and keeping your holiday stress-free. Spill Proof Jugs ($19.95 1.8L and $24.95 2.2L)

holidays

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

1 Check the latest travel advice for your destination on the website

smartraveller.gov.au and subscribe to receive free e-mail updates.

2 Make sure your passport is valid and you have all the appropriate

visas before heading overseas.

3 Carry extra passport photos in case your passport is lost/stolen and

you need to replace it while away.

4 Don’t travel with lots of flashy jewellery.

Chances are nothing will happen, but why risk it?

5 Make copies of your passport, credit cards

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

6 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.

7 If you’re heading through an airport, pack your toiletries in a

clear bag for easy security checks.

8 Relax. You might as well. Delays happen, luggage

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

Tips for stress-free international travel

■ Versaline Traveler Airer $229

■ Travel Space bag pack of two $14.95

■ GoToob from $9.95 and 3 Pack for $27.95

■ Tub Trugs from $13.95

■ Hanging Toiletry Bag $39.95

■ No Spill Jug from $19.95

■ Fridge To Go from $29.95

We wish the two ‘happy campers’ a wonderful journey.

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

Stays cold up to 8 hours!

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inplace magazine 29

digital declutter digital declutter

www.hsw.com.au

e-Clutter Clean-upIt may just be a collection of pixels on a screen, but electronic junk can be a real cause of stress.

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.

Virtual 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 fine-tuning the junk mail settings of your inbox.

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.

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

Desktop Friends

1 Boris is perfect for keeping your desk neat and tidy while

your mobile phone charges. ■ Boris $19.95

2 iCushion is an award-winning stand that also keeps earphone cables and

USB charging cords organised at all times. ■ iCushion $6.95

3 Hub Man is a charming design that allows you to connect up to four

USB devices to one computer port.■ Hub Man $19.95

4 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. ■ Rapstrap Organisers $4.95

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.

28 inplace magazine

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!

2

1

Connect four devices to one computer port!

3

The Rapstrap is reusable and extremely neat!

4

Resolu

tion: D

eclutter your digital life

“Decluttering your virtual world requires patience. No matter how large the project, start small . Clear one area of your digital life at a time ”

28-29_HSW7_eClutterA.indd 28-29 22/09/11 11:52 AM

inplace magazine 3130 inplace magazine

interview

www.hsw.com.au

A Wonderful Life

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 Trugs ready for wrapping.

To keep everything flowing smoothly, Santa likes to have each 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 would hate it if we accidentally gave him the gold brocade with a tasselled ribbon!”

Wrapped gifts are placed in secret locations around the world, ready for Santa to collect on Christmas Eve. “Getting to Australia takes a bit of time, so I like to head off early to make sure there’s a surprise on Christmas morning.”

With an average delivery time of 822 homes per second, speed is critical. “Yep, it’s a big ask,” Santa grins, “but I usually manage it. After all, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a little bit of magic!” ■ inplace

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.

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

We have one sensational (and elf-approved!) wrapping station to give away. Great for gifts at Christmas and hobbies/craft for the rest of the year.To enter, simply visit the promotions page at: hsw.com.au and finish the following sentence with 25 words or less:

Howards is the perfect destination for Christmas shopping because...Competition closes December 12, 2011. 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.

Win!An easy-build

Wrapping Station and Tub Trugs, worth $705.50

30-31_HSW7_XmasInterview02.indd 30-31 22/09/11 11:53 AM

www.hsw.com.au

workplaceworkplace

Working Wonders

Three shelves of storage – and just look

at that clean desk

Inspirations offer!

Often, 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.

The WorkspaceUsing 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;

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.

The Work FridgeEver 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

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.

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, member- only competitions, workshops, events and more!

*Available to Inspirations Members only. Offer only available in December 2011. While stocks last.

After

After

With a No-Spill Jug you can rest your liquids

on their sides!

Download this template from insider.hsw.com.au

Make sure there is a communal

area for items such as milk

Resolu

tion: O

rganise your workplace

■ Laminate the name tags.

Before

■ Viola File Organisers $21.95 each

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

32 inplace magazine inplace magazine 33

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

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inplace magazine 35

XXXXXXXX

www.hsw.com.au34 inplace magazine

Howards Storage World storesFor the full store list, visit: hsw.com.au

NEW SOUTH WALES Albury 587 Dean Street (02) 6021 3644

Artamon Home HQ North Shore (02) 9437 1955

Bathurst Bathurst City Centre (02) 6331 4044

Belrose Homemakers Supa Centa (02) 9986 2480

Bondi Junction Westfield Bondi Junction (02) 9387 5733

Brookvale Warringah Mall (02) 9907 2200

Burwood Westfield Burwood (02) 9744 8077

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

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

Rutherford Hunter Supa Centre (02) 4932 4655

Shellharbour Stockland, Shellharbour Square (02) 4297 0811

Tuggerah Westfield Tuggerah (02) 4353 9066

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

Cairns 327 Mulgrave Road (07) 4054 4966

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

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 AUSTRALIAGepps Cross Gepps Cross Centre Home HQ (08) 8162 9160

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

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 Springvale Homemaker Centre

NORTHERN TERRITORYDarwin NEW STORE! Shop 20, Jape Homemaker Village (08) 8948 2088

WESTERN AUSTRALIABunbury 175-181 Blair Street (08) 9792 4880

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

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

Subiaco 427 Hay Street (08) 9381 4599

Success Cockburn Gateway Shopping City 816 Beeliar Drive (08) 9499 1018

GROUP OFFICENo. 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

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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Gift Cards are available for any amount over $20. Redemption is only available through Australian stores.

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We’ll gladly exchange or refund on presentation of a docket where goods are in original packaging (saleable condition). An exchange is offered where a docket is not presented.

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Free Measure and Quote

Your local store is happy to assist with your elfa®, easy-build wardrobe and wine rack planning with an obligation-free measure and quote. We can even arrange delivery and installation.

2012 catalogue in-store now!

Come in-store for more information or visit hsw.com.au

Let the Chips Fall

Whether baked or fried, crisps cooked in oil with lashings of salt are absolutely, can’t-stop-

at-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

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

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

Three to six minutes is all it takes for delicious,

healthy chips!

■ Mastrad TopChips maker $39.95

product focus

“For a treat, try sprinkling apple chips with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon”

NEW STORE!

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