Interview - Toss 21

At House to Home Organizing, we often see the same items in our clients homes. The same disposable items. We encourage our clients to seek out quality (possibly local) items that will be used more than once. We spoke with Andrew from Durham, CT's Toss 21 Cornhole game system to learn about something new. 

For the busy person, what is Toss 21?

Toss21 is a fully engaging digital gaming system. This means that you physically play a game but at the same time can control the content and atmosphere of the gaming platform. This means you get to watch live TV, connect and play live with friends and family in different parts of the country, change lighting and display settings. You can play a game in total darkness and experience a fully immersible experience that has yet to be done - (glow bags, led board and TV display).

What is your origin story, how did Toss 21 get started?

Toss21 was started when I had first-hand experience of people struggling to keep score, remember the score and not be able to play the game successfully at night (lack of sunlight). So, I thought why not make all those issues a thing of the past and give people a way to hang out and socialize by combining led lighting, a digital display, internet connection and sensors to score into a single unit. All the problems that were expressed and that I encountered were now taken care of. 

Does the game work outside?

The Toss21 gaming system works outdoors and indoors. It has the ability to be powered by battery, battery with solar panel  or into an electrical outlet. This allows the system to be portable and usable pretty much anywhere. The system is also weather resistant. This means that spilled drinks or quick rain/snow showers are of no threat to the board or its functionality.

What are the age requirements?

Age requirements are from 3 years old to 100 years old. And I have already had players of both those ages. The system is child proof, adult proof and even environment proof. The system is built to withstand a grown adult stepping on it, which means that kids jumping and sliding down the board cause no issue.

For those who are not tech savvy can they still play?

If someone can turn on a TV and use a remote they are good to go. The system is made for ease of use. Its about playing and socializing first, so we made the platform extremely user friendly. This doesn’t mean that you can’t go crazy and really utilize all of the features, we had the abilities and desires of tech savvy people in mind as well.

Guest Post - Organization Hacks for a Kid-Friendly Kitchen

Cooking with kids is an excellent way for spending a great family bonding time. It also allows you to teach them about healthy diet and help them overcome being put off by the mere sight of broccoli. Not to mention that it can really be fun. However, kitchens can be a dangerous place with all the sharp objects, electricity, hot stoves, etc. To be able to include the kids in the kitchen, you will need to make some changes in the kitchen organization. Here are some tips that will help you accomplish that.

Deal with the height issues

There are a lot of things kids can’t reach in the kitchen. On the other hand, there are a lot of things kids can reach, but they shouldn’t be able to, especially if they are dangerous. The trick is to make the safe items accessible to them and to store the unsafe items outside their reach. Deal with the safety issues first, and make sure the knives and other sharp objects are stored on the top shelves, or that there is a safety lock on the drawers and shelves where you store them. As for the other part, empty out one of the lower cabinets, and stock it up with kid-friendly items (e.g., plastic bowls, cereals, granola bars, etc.). This way, your kids will be able to prepare their breakfast, snacks, and lunch boxes.

Reorganize your fridge

They will need some milk to prepare a bowl of cereal, right? Create one kid-friendly zone in the refrigerator, which will include containers of milk and yogurt, cheese sticks, vegetables, and fruits. This keeps them from rummaging through the fridge and eating some of the ingredients you have planned to use for meal preparation.

Choose kid-friendly appliances

Small kids shouldn’t be allowed to use the oven or the stove until they reach a certain age, but they can handle some smaller appliances. Equip your kitchen with small KitchenAid appliances, such as stand mixer or food processor, which can be used by children if you previously show them how to handle them. Soon enough, your little ones will enjoy helping you whip the cream for their birthday cake or prepare pesto for the pasta night.

Give them a workstation

Your kids will need some place to work without having to stand on chairs and risking to fall on the floor. Kitchen tables are usually a convenient place for that. Plus, if you move your operations there, your kids will be able to see what are you doing, and learn from you. If this is not an option, you can get an appropriate-sized mini table for them, and fit it into the available corner of the room.

Label things

Cooking with kids and organizing the kitchen afterward can turn out to be quite a mess. A few hours later, you will probably find oregano in the drawer with spoons and knives. To prevent this from happening, you can label things, such as seasoning, flour, etc., and put matching labels on the drawers and cabinets. If your children cannot read yet, you can always use photographs or drawings.

Compartmentalize the drawers

When the kids have trouble finding the things they need in the drawers, it can go two ways: they will interrupt your work process and ask you to get it from them, or they will turn your drawers into the picture of chaos. Neither of these two situations works in your favor. You can fix that by making your drawers more organized with compartments. For this project, you will need nothing more than a few plastic containers. Put a few of them into the drawers and categorize them.

Make it easy to clean

Easy maintenance is vital for kitchens used by the entire family, especially with toddlers and school kids. You need to choose surfaces that are not porous. While natural stone looks beautiful, it is also prone to stains. Quartz countertops could be the best option if low maintenance is your priority. As for the flooring, a high-end solution like hardwood is very durable and resistant to spills and impact. Laminate is a more affordable option with similar features.

Make it easy for kids to clean

Children should be taught to clean after themselves at an early age. But how can they learn to clean after themselves if they can’t even reach the sink? A bathroom stool could mend this problem. Also, the dishwasher is quite easy to use, and with some tips from you, your kids could become your little helpers. You just need to make sure the appliance is installed somewhere between the lower cabinets.

Cooking with your kids doesn’t have to be stressful. It can be turned into a joyful experience, but only if you make your kitchen safe and convenient for them. These hacks will help you accomplish that.

Will Sandford is a Sydney based wood architect, blogger and contributor on interior design and ecology blogs. Besides that, he is also interested in home improvement combined with green technology. In his spare time, Will enjoys surfing and rock climbing. He is also a regular contributor to SmoothDecorator. Connect with him on Twitter.

The “Perfect” Playroom

Kathleen shares her thoughts on the “Perfect” Playroom.

Real Image from a Professional Organizer's playroom

Perfect and playroom are two words, in my mind, that should never be grouped together and if they are than you may not be using the room correctly. I would love to have a picture perfect playroom like you see in magazines, but they do not exist if you have actual real-life human children playing in them. I believe playrooms should be used and even messy. However, it is the ease as which items can be put away that should command your focus. Everything should have a home and if there are multiple people who do the putting away- there should be labels. Toys should not be hidden or most likely they will stay hidden and then forgotten. Toys should be easily accessible and in turn easily put away. Shallow shelves, clear containers without lids when possible. I also love me a good theme, have a dress-up area, arts & craft area, and an  area for dramatic play.

I set my playroom or play area up so if the situation arises, usually this means someone decides to stop by unexpectedly, I can literally “toss” items away and off the floor in an instant. 

As an organizer and a mother of two small children, the most common statement I hear is “your home must be so organized”. My answer? I’m a mom, it’s as organized as I can get it and for as long as they let it stay that way. On any given day our playroom looks like a toddler tornado just hit it. As much as I love having it look”pretty”, I also love (yes I know - the horror of a pro organizer stating this) seeing such a disaster. It tells me my kids are being kids and having a blast playing with all those clutter inducing toys that my family and friends purchased for them. It makes me smile. What might make it different than other homes though is I also smile knowing there are proper homes for all the toys and there is a system in place that I or anyone taking care of my kids and/or home can rely on. I organize for my children but more importantly for me - so I can find things, easily put things away, and also teach my kids how to put things away properly. Will they always do it - no. It is often a struggle and of course frustrating.  Kids learn through example and surprisingly they do love being able to find their toys with ease. 

Make clean up a game - time them or race them. Show them that putting their toys away can be easy- they will catch on quickly. My children know exactly where their toys live.  Do they put all their toys away, all the time - of course not, but they try (in their own way). At 3 and 6, I feel like I win half the battles.  Stay strong care givers and let your children play! 

Buy on Amazon

If you need help setting up your “perfect playroom”- contact H2H anytime. 

You can also check out our Amazon store for more great toy storage ideas as well.

Interview - NasKart

Many of our clients ask us how to deal with the vast number of toys their kids accumulate. We suggest limiting the number that come into your space in the first place. We encourage a switch from toys towards experiences so we spoke with Cody of Montville, CT's NasKart SuperCharged Go Kart Racetrack.

What is the track's origin story? How long has it been around?

Naskart opened on January 1, 2017, only 11 months after its conception on a dinner napkin. It really is a unique concept that originated when one of the owners was on a family trip in Florida. As he sat watching his kids enjoy an indoor karting track he had two thoughts. 1. Why don’t we have anything like this closer to home, and 2. We can do this better. That is exactly what he set off to do with his business partners and 11 months later the doors open for the world’s largest indoor multi-level karting track.

What should a busy person know before walking in the door to race?

The first thing to understand when going to a facility like this, is that indoor karting isn’t like most entertainment venues. The system operates more like a airport than anything else, with a strict schedule of races with loading and departures times, always subject to delays based upon what is happening on the tracks during the races. Be sure to check online to better understand what to expect. What are the requirements to participate? What restrictions exist? What are the associated costs and hours of operation? All this and more can be found on our website NASKARTracing.com.

What are the different tracks and levels?

Naskart offers two distinct quarter mile tracks, Coca-Cola Raceway and Antonino Auto Group Speedway. On Thursdays we merge them both for Supertrack, a ½ mile per lap experience line no other. On either track you have two options for your speed setting, Semi-PRO, or PRO. For Semi-PRO the minimum requirement is that you are 58 inches or taller. For PRO you must also be 58 inches or taller, and also 15 years of age or older. Both tracks, and both speed settings use the same high performance electric go karts.

What are the age limits or height?

For our trampoline park we do not have any age or height limitations. Our policy is that you must be able to jump on your own without assistance and follow instructions. We are very strict on our safety rules.

Can someone drive a cart on the trampoline park?

In addition to our 80,000 sq. ft. track building we have our trampoline park, party spaces, Fuel Up café, and a full service sports bar. Be sure to JUMP & DRIVE before visiting the bar. For more information or to inquire about having a special event with us please email sales@NASKARTracing.com.