Hit the road with purpose: the needs, wants and musts of any road trip

Road trips are the perfect getaway for family, friends and even our four-legged companions.

As summer begins, we start to feel that vacation itch, but skipping out of the office for the next flight isn’t always possible. That’s why we at Organize-It love the idea of weekend road trips. They’re a quick getaway for less money, less effort and less hassle.

muskegon_river

View of the Muskegon River. // Photo courtesy snre.umich.edu.

Last weekend I packed up the car and headed for Marion, Mich. for some good ol’ camping on the Muskegon River. And, of course, we forgot just about everything. There’s nothing worse.

I take that back. Have you ever kayaked in the rain?

Yeah, I hadn’t before either.

Forgetting the little things on the first road trip of summer 2015 has me already packed and prepared for the next. I learned from my rustic faux pas pretty quickly, and now I’m happy to share my highway wisdom. So, without further ado, I present:

Organize-It’s top five summer road trip must-haves

It’s not the destination; it’s the journey, right? Getting there is half the battle, and you want to make sure you get there in one piece. At Organize-It, we offer plenty of Cell Phone Holders that are perfect for helping you get where you’re going.

dash-mat-blackThe Dash Mat is a great example. This handy little dashboard grip is perfect for keeping tollbooth change, sunglasses, iPod’s and more secure while you’re on the road. The gripping surface applies with no need for adhesive and removes without leaving behind any residue. And, of course, it keeps your hands off of your devices and on the wheel.

Distracted driving certainly is a no-no, but we all know the pain of juggling your GPS or smartphone to get a glance at the map while driving. The GPS and Phone Stand for Dash is the best way to avoid that mistake. This universal GPS holder is designed to accommodate a wide range of GPS navigation systems and cell phones.

Of course, comfort and organization are an important part of any road trip.

And snacks. Lots of snacks.

We offer a multitude of Car Seat Organizers designed to meet those needs.

First, gaze in awe at the simple but genius Car Seat Catcher. This set of two car seat gap fillers are made to snugly fit between the center counsel and car seats. And there they sit, ready to catch every dropped French fry, candy, coin and more. These car seat pockets are incredibly easy to take in and out and clean.

But, back to what really got your attention: snacks.

car_coolerHow can anyone be expected to sit in a tiny heat box on wheels for hours without a nice cool drink or your favorite guilty pleasure junk food. The Back Seat Organizer and Cooler is what you need. The insulated interior of this back seat cooler keeps your goods cold, while the 10 outside pockets help organize any other car ride necessities such as card games, maps, headphones and more. You could use it to pack some healthy lunches and avoid greasy drive-thrus, but you’re on vacation, right? We won’t judge you.

And, finally, what trip is complete without the company of your best friend —the furry kind.

Sure, traveling with pets provides another world of difficulties, but luckily we offer an excellent collection of Pet Carriers and Travel Accessories to solve those problems.

dog_bottleKennels and auto dividers aside, the most convenient offer we have is the Portable Pet Water Bottle and Drinking Bowl. This handy dog water bottle is designed keep man’s best friend hydrated without the bulk or hassle of traditional pet bowls. The bowl fits snug against the bottle and unfolds when needed, allowing you help your pet freshen up in the car, at a rest stop, camp site or anywhere in between. Just remember to make some pit stops for Sparky!

Well, there you have it. These simple solutions will make your travel a breeze.

And if you really want to be a hero, pack some disposable rain ponchos. Trust me.

As always, find these helpful products and more like them at organizeit.com.

Father’s Day gift ideas: the trend of male grooming

Summer begins on Sunday, June 21, this year — but that date means something else, too. It’s the day of Dad. The day of pop, padre, daddy and pa. The day to honor and thank the brave men who have taught us the art of grilling, how to throw a punch and how to abuse the greatness of duct tape.

These men know what they like. They enjoy the quiet outdoors from the seat of a lawn mower. They enjoy Sundays on the couch with a cold one in their hand. And lately, reports say, they’re finding enjoyment in their good looks too.

Manscaping, mampering and the dad bod
Lame internet slang aside, men’s grooming is a booming trend. The men of today are not ashamed to admit they put the time, money and effort into their appearance much like their female counterparts do. The glorious resurgence of the rugged beard is just one example of how stylish it is to be a man.

So instead of adding to the collection of ties your pops has been hoarding in the back of his closet since 1983, or another inevitable “World’s Best Dad” trinket, let’s give dads everywhere the right to be fabulous— or at least properly groomed.

Our wide collection of Vanity and Sink Accessories includes many must-haves to help dad be his best man. And hey, mom will be happy too.

Here are just a few ideas:

shave_oneSilver Shave Set and Soap Dish
There isn’t a man on earth who doesn’t look dashing after a fresh, clean shave, and this three-piece shaving brush set is sure to strike gold with any father figure. This set includes a custom razor, a badger hair cream brush and a hybrid stand/soap dish. All pieces come in a masculine brushed steel finish, and the razor fits with easy-to-find Mach 3 blades. Make the morning ritual of shaving a spa-like experience for the man in your life.

Lighted Fogless Mirror with Clockshave_mirror
This shower shaving mirror is perfect for dads with little time to spare in the morning. Kill two birds with one stone by using this illuminated mirror in the shower to get a close and safe shave. This deluxe mirror features LED lights and an automatic clock. The fogless mirror can be mounted three different ways and it comes packed with the hardware for all options. A trial size of special fogless mirror cleaner comes included.

Plastic Razor Buddy
For the low-maintenance guys who prefer a simple can of shaving cream and a disposable razor, this handy razor clip is perfect. The convenient l plastic ring snaps on to any average sized can of shaving cream and includes a clip for your razor. This way, shaving necessities stay together and cleanup is a cinch.razor_buddy

With these choices and other great Father’s Day gift ideas at organizeit.com, your mister is sure to be one step closer to being a perfectly pampered papa.

Happy National Bike Week!

May is National Bike Month, and the third week in May is National Bike Week. If you haven’t already, go ahead and pull out that bike and start getting active! Enjoy your biking season, and let us worry about how you will store your bike after the summer months. Organize-It has some secure, space saving, and effective solutions for off season bike storage. Here are some options you may want to implement for the times your bike needs a break.

For those bike enthusiasts who travel, we have car bike racks that offer support and a safe transport to and from your destination. There is an option for a trunk mounted rack and a hitch mounted rack to fit your car or truck. Each rack is weather resistant, rubberized for secure storage, and can hold up to 90 pounds.

Organize-It has a wide variety of bike stands to choose the most effective and convenient option for you. If you prefer a single or a double floor bike stand, the Portable Bicycle Kickstand, the Seurat Two-Bike Floor Stand, or the Double Floor Bike Stand would make an excellent choice. Each one of these stands will easily and quickly store and stand your bike up when not in use.

If you are looking to store your bike in the garage during the off seasons, here are some customer favorites for safe storage. Wall Mounted Bike Racks serve an incredibly convenient purpose in storing your bike out of the way and maximizing the most of your garage space. Ceiling Bike Storage is another space saver and is especially useful for storing more than one bike.

For more Organize-It products visit www.OrganizeIt.com or if you have a specific question on how to organize a space, you can Ask Our Organizer for some free advice!