by Nikol Lohr

FIND IT AT: Target
PRICE: $12.99

Think you can't be smartly organized AND excruciatingly adorable? Think again. Target (the cuteness mothership) now has so so so darling Hello Kitty car organizers—and for way less than the typical Sanrio premium for cuteness.

(If you like cute, but Her Royal Cuteness is just too much for you, they also have Scooby Doo and Hot Wheels versions of the same organizer, and a similar version in a cow-print faux fur.)

I recently did the heretofore unthinkable: I cleaned out my car. I got it washed, then I hauled it over to the car wash stalls and super-vacuumed and shampooed it. I even bought a Bissell Spot Lifter (which sucks, but the way, and not literally—I'm exchanging it today for the Black & Decker version, which I pray works better) to deep clean out the ground-in doggy smell. Once it's immaculate, I'm going to strap on the seat covers and never look back.

While I was at Target hunting down some heavy-duty deep rubber all-weather floor mats (not cute at all but really rad—I spilled half a cup of coffee on they yesterday and it never left the mat), I stumbled across this gem in the auto department. It's only one in a whole line of Hello Kitty auto accessories. But since I already have my own self-styled auto stations (strategically-placed baskets organizing necessities, kleenex, dog bowls and leashes, trash, and reusable shopping bags), the back-of-the-seat organizer was the only one that truly spoke to me. It covered all the bases I had missed.

And more importantly, it expanded the cuteness of my car. My boring 93 Escort, though practical and dependable, is decidedly uncute. Previous auto cuteness had been limited to dashboard sproingies and funny air fresheners. But for a paltry 12.99, I've brought adorable order to my back seat.

Here are its chief virtues:

1. Little pocket can hold pens, hairbrush or comb, small container of pepper spray. 2. Mesh cup holder lets you keep a clean reusable commuter cup in your car so you won't have to get evil styrofoam or paper cups next time your hankerin' for joe; also fits a water bottle. 3. Flat pocket for pens, small camera, registration/insurance. 4. Mesh pocket is perfect for anything small: tampons, change, ID. 5. If I were smart, I'd have an extra set of house keys here.

6. Gussetted pocket with velcro tab keeps stuff from falling out. Mine holds emergency provisions (in this case, granola bars). 7. Another gussetted pocket holds my first aid kit (which I got free from drugstore.com last year). It has a velcro tab as well & is the right size for a traveler kleenex or a little notebook.

8. Great big giant bottom pocket. I use it to hold junk mail and papers destined for the recycling bin and extra cloth grocery bags, but you could also use it for magazines, mail on its way to the post office, etc. It has a velcro tab to keep it neatly closed. 9. Umbrella loops hold a wet or dry umbrella very nicely, thank you.