So a friend gave me the Wicked Elphaba Caboodle for Christmas. (I think it’s actually Caboodles singular, but that doesn’t sound right to me!) It’s awesome – I love Wicked, and I’ve always kind of regretted getting rid of my original Caboodle from when I was a teen. She knows me so well! And it’s purple and green, which I know is kind of a weird combination, but also two of my favorite colors.

But. I really don’t need a Caboodle because I am a middle-aged woman. (Aside, I also didn’t really need one as a 13-year-old girl, but we all had them, and it was great.) So what exactly do I do with it?
I knew I really wanted to put it on display somehow, but my bathroom pretty functional as it is, with no room for something with this kind of footprint.
Then I had the brilliant idea that I could display it on my desk. My husband and I got new desks recently, so mine isn’t completely cluttered up yet, and I’m always interested in new organization ideas for my side of the office.
So I filled it with some oft-used supplies that I either had been carrying in my pencil bag but didn’t really need that often, and/or didn’t really fit well in other places.

As you can see, the top trays are great for holding pens, markers, and other small supplies, and the larger compartment underneath is useful for some oddly sized or shaped supplies that might get lost in just another bin or basket.

This particular little project was a huge win because my Caboodle could have just languished under my bed or in a closet, but now I get to see it and smile every day! Decorating and organizing has never come that easily to me, but I’m learning that I really love using found or unexpected objects in ways that are both functional and fun. I have a bunch of these little loose supplies close at hand while also enjoying this silly gift!
What about you? What’s something that you have or could use in a new way to provide some organization or other usefulness in your home while also bringing some extra joy? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!